Gap years
Wednesday 26 August 2009
If you’re not quite ready to go to uni or if you want some more time to figure out your options then a gap year might be for you!
Also coming up this week on n2k
- GCSE and Diploma results
- Staying on in education
Year out
If you’re taking a year out then make sure it’s not an excuse to do nothing day in, day out. Use your free time to get more out of the real world and build up your skills, so that when you’re ready to take the next step you’re fully prepared.
If you didn’t get the results you wanted then some timeout might be helpful. It’ll give you enough time to figure out what to do next.
Work on it
Getting a part or full time job can help you improve the skills you already have and get some new ones too. You’ll also be able to save up some cash for any plans you might have – whether it’s going back to study or holiday plans.
If you want to spend your gap year working in an industry related to your studies or future career plans, then ask your careers teacher or a Connexions advisor about schemes that let you do that. A Year In Industry may be able to help you get a work placement in a sector you’re interested in too.
Volunteering
Many people decide to spend their year out volunteering. Most placements require you to step out of your comfort zone, but it’s a good way to see the world in a different perspective.
Volunteering can sometimes be very challenging too, and roles can vary from helping out in classrooms and summer camps to assisting in medicine and health care, law and human rights.
Visit Do It and Volunteering England for more opportunities. You could also do volunteer work in a different country. Check out Projects Abroad which provides placements all over the world. Watch these volunteers in action.
Visit Europe
Want to take a short break away from home? Inter-railing is a cool way to travel around Europe by train for up to a month, doing whatever you please. The price of your ticket will depend on how many countries you want to visit and how long you want the trip to last. Get all the information here.
Go further
Some of the most popular gap year destinations are India, Peru, Costa Rica, Tanzania, Australia and China. Whether you plan to soak up some culture or just take a well deserved break make sure you consider these factors to help you plan your trip.
Think about where you want to go and when. You should also think about your itinerary and different activities you want to do and sites you want to visit. The last thing to consider is booking your ticket. Travel prices can be quite pricey, especially if you want to go to a bunch of countries, but it’s definitely worth the experience. Get some help from Gap Year on how to plan your trip the best way possible.
