Written by: Ayele Atiwoto
WHAT IS A GAP YEAR?
A gap year can be a fun and exciting way to get to know your interests better and gain insight into your passions and what you might want to pursue as a career in the future. But not everyone knows what a gap year is or even an option. But we’re here to tell you exactly what a gap year is, why you should consider it and the opportunities we have for young Canadians!
A gap year usually happens right after high school or after finishing university, where a person takes a period of time (usually a year or sometimes two) to explore many things and areas of life; whether that’s working, travelling, or both!
WHY SHOULD YOU TAKE A GAP YEAR?
- Help you experience things outside of your norm
A gap year could help you explore a little outside of your comfort zone by trying new things and getting to know yourself better. This is the time to be on your own and explore a new environment through working or travelling or both!
- A change of perspective
A gap year could help you change how you view things in the world because you are exploring things outside of your comfort zone and trying new things. Taking a gap year means you are often experiencing things you have not experienced or seen before and can open your eyes to the world outside of your own.
- Making new friends and having new experiences
Taking a gap year and travelling or working or doing both helps you connect with all kinds of people from different walks of life from you, and these people can sometimes become lifelong friends.
- Helps with your decision of what paths you might want to take in the future
Taking a gap year opens up your eyes to the world of opportunity around you and could change or solidify the things that you are passionate about and want to pursue as a career in the future.
- Boost your resume
Taking a gap year to travel, work or do both helps your resume to look even better to potential employers because of the experiences you would gain, the new skills you would have, and the possible new language you could have learned! All of these things look great to an employer.
If a gap year sounds good to you, check out our program! We know that travelling is exciting, but costs can add up pretty quickly, and not all young people have the money to sustain themselves while travelling for a full year straight after graduation. So, we can help you find meaningful work placements in countries like Australia, New Zealand, France, Spain and many more.
