The benefits of taking a Gap Year

It’s quite ironic in the middle of a pandemic which has put travel completely on hold, that I will begin my blogging journey focusing on travelling; my favourite destinations which I experienced and the benefits of taking a gap year. 

 Before discussing travelling and my favourite destinations I am going to start with the benefits I encountered by taking a gap year before starting university.

There are many benefits for a student to take a gap year before embarking on their university career. Benefits that will not just enhance you as a student but will also make you a well-rounded individual. Here we go….

Learn to be independent  

Before you set off on your gap year you have probably lived beneath people of authority, whether that be parents, teachers or grown-ups in general. By taking a gap year, this will probably be your first opportunity to be fully independent by setting your own schedule, obtaining a job, managing your money and being totally your own person. I have found students, especially based in Northern Ireland who go home most weekends to their family to get their washing done and meals cooked for the week etc don’t fully learn how to be totally independent and this can be detrimental to them. Learning independence will not just benefit you through university life but will serve you well through working life and beyond.

Me and my mum before I set off on my journey of independence.... 

Make new friends 

On my first gap year I was alone which put me out of my comfort zone, leaving me with no choice but to make new friends. I found making friends away from an educational setting was making a friend for life rather than a friendship that was forced in school or university which can drift after you leave. I stay in touch with the people I met on my gap year regularly and can truthfully say, they are friends for life. The friends I met on my gap years has created long lasting friendships based on a variety of different reasons rather than sometimes being forced into friendships in educational settings. Whilst being abroad, these friendships will naturally be with people from different backgrounds and cultures which also leads you to being more open minded.  A solid friendship is hard to find and shouldn’t be underestimated. These newly formed friendships with people from around the world can be more than a social friendship but can lead to a business contact in the future giving you a wider scope for professional contacts.

A photo with friends I met from different backgrounds and cultures.

Develop new life skills

It goes without saying that setting off on a gap year will allow you to develop new life skills which will stand by you forever. Before my gap year, I was heavily reliant on my mum for cooking, cleaning and general day to day chores. Being thrown in at the deep end, aged 19 I had to learn all these things and more first-hand. Yes, I get it, these aren’t big time skills but skills like cooking cleaning, shopping, money management and time management etc are things that will stand you in a good way before setting off to university, especially if you leave your home country to study. 

     

          Gain work experience 

Taking a gap year will give you time to gain invaluable experience in a range of fields; this could be anything from a job in retail, farm work or volunteering. When it comes to applying for a placement or graduate job, having this type of experience behind you will make you a lot more marketable and attractive for employers. In such a competitive industry, having a relevant degree is no longer suffice and it is important to gain experience that will make you stand out as an individual. No matter the job you undertake whilst on a gap year, it will show prospective employers you have a strong work ethic and are willing to put yourself out there even in an unfamiliar setting. 

Me "working" on a building site learning new skills and gaining working experience. 

Can increase self-confidence and maturity 

 In the UK, we are taught from a young age that we should follow the “textbook” way of life such as going to school, then university and straight into working life. Instead, taking a gap year is an opportunity to break the mould, step out of your comfort zone and take a risk. It is through my own personal observation that the only way to build self-confidence is through life experiences and bravely taking risks. A lot of people may seem perfectly confident in their home environment, but we all know the real world is bigger and a gap year is the perfect opportunity to spread your wings and grow as a person. Gap years provide a way for young adults to take small calculated risks in a way to develop self-confidence and maturity. I can guarantee it will be the best risk you’ll ever take! 

         

        Best time to travel

Your younger years are crucial in determining the type of person you will come. Taking a gap year before university can be one of the best times to travel as at a young age, you will have minimal responsibilities and dependencies. It would be much harder to quit a full-time job or leave behind long-term responsibilities. Taking a gap year is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of your freedom and discover the incredible world out there. More than likely if you don’t take the risk now or straight after university, you probably never will! 

        Reduces chances of burnout and improves performance 

After 15+ years of education, taking a gap year before university is a great opportunity to recharge your batteries before continuing in education. Going straight to university after school may lead to being burnt-out and ready for a change. Burnout is when you have done something for so long that you start paying less attention to it and start looking for ways to avoid it. Why pay for university if you are not going to give it your full attention? Having a year out will enhance your focus and ultimately allow you to fulfil your maximum potential. The confidence gained from taking a gap year will allow you to fully maximise the opportunities provided by universities such as joining clubs and societies. Let’s be honest, going into university with a fresh and open mind will definitely benefit your experience, both academically and also away from the books too. 

Now it's time to ask yourself, should you take a gap year before univeristy?