Things To Concern Before Taking A Gap Year

Gap year is a year or a few months of vocation which is taken after high school or university. It aims at learning from experience in various activities, like volunteering, sightseeing and working etc. Taking a gap year is popular among youngsters nowadays. This essay mainly finds out the factors engaging them for having a gap year and the possible impacts.

It is the prime time to take a gap year for youngsters since they without burden from workplaces now. Before they enter the workplace, they enjoy plenty of time to try new things. When they are getting older, it is hard to withdraw from the workplace because of heavy workload and lacking in leisure time. As a result, student’s day is treasurable since it is the most available time for experience the world during the whole life.

Having an all-round development are also the factors prompt youths to take a gap year. In a survey, over 2/3 HK high school students support gap year enhances life experiences (over 75% of senior secondary students support gap year). Learned to be thanksgiving from volunteering to underprivileged; Got cultural exchanges from travelling; Improved communication strategy from working. Besides of personal skills and attitudes, travelling for voluntary service during the break raises the sense of “global citizen” (Jones, 2011). As a result, youngsters are engaged to take the break to experience the world and improve their personal quality.

These are the factors appealing youths to plan a gap year. I would like to discuss the possible impacts for the gap year.

Being more motivated to achieve goals is the positive impact from the long break. It is quite challenging to have a long vocation since hardships are everywhere during it. For example, enrolling a working holiday as the gap year. It is not easy to leave our comfort zone like languages and cultures are unfamiliar from us. Nevertheless, they will overcome those difficulties and become more confident. According a research studied on the impacts of gap year to students, it was showed a good result on academic motivation as they found themselves is more capable to face future challenges after gap year (Martin, 2010). Therefore, it fosters them to pursuit goals by pushing themselves.

Despite a gap year is beneficial for personal development, but it is crucial to plan it carefully. As a gap year is quite long, people may find it confused to plan it meaningful. There are lots of choices like travelling, volunteering services, learning new skills as well as career exploration. It is essential to find out what you desired and search for it. If you do nothing with the plan, a year is wasted which ruin your CV finally. Since the employer may think the person is only wasting of time for pleasuring, but without any constructive results. Hence, a gap year is not only for entertainment, the purpose is crucial for the person who wanted to have it.

Owing to the suitable timing to explore the world and hope to be matured, students are attracted to take the break. It shapes them to being more self-motivated to pursuit achievements. The reminder is organizing it properly. Hope you have a meaningful gap year.

References

Jones, A. (2011). Theorising international youth volunteering: training for global (corporate) work? Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 530-544.

Matrin, A. J. (2010). Should students have a gap year? motivation and performance factors relevant to time out after completing school. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102(3), 561-576.

Over 75% of senior secondary students support gap year: survey. EJ Insight. Retrieved July 31,2017 from: http://www.ejinsight.com/20170731-over-75-percent-of-senior-secondary-students-support-gap-year-survey-finds/

Gap years – ideas and things to think about. UCAS(2018). Retrieved from: https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/alternatives-higher-education/gap-years-ideas-and-things-think-about