While many students decide to go straight into higher education after leaving school or college, some chose to take a gap year instead. Gap years can be an excellent way for young adults to become more independent and learn important life skills.
In this article we explore what a gap year is, the benefits of taking one, and hear a real-life story of a gap year in action.
What is a gap year and what are the benefits?
A gap year is a period of time taken between leaving school or college and starting university, which is typically a year, but sometimes more or less.
Gap years are increasingly popular, with around 200,000 people aged 18-24 taking one in 2023. Despite its name, a gap year is not about simply taking time off. Instead, it can be an ideal opportunity for young adults to set out on a journey of personal growth and self-discovery. And as well as providing a wealth of experience – from work to travel – it can also help people gain greater clarity over their life goals. This was the case for Jenny, whose gap year story we’ll be exploring soon.
Busting gap year myths
Now we’ve covered what a gap year is, let’s clear up some misconceptions.
- Gap years always last a year. A gap year doesn’t need to be one year in length and can typically last anywhere from a few months to two years.
- Gap years must involve backpacking. Gap years don’t always involve traveling – they are an opportunity for young adults to enjoy a wide range of activities such as volunteering learning new skills and gaining valuable work experience.
- Gap years harm your career prospects. Gap years can actually improve employability by showing employers that you are independent-minded and can step out of your comfort zone.
Jenny’s gap year story
A gap year can be a rewarding experience, but it also requires preparation and initiative if young adults are to make the best of it. So, let’s hear the story of Jenny, whose gap year helped build her confidence and taught her essential life skills.
Jenny is a professional copywriter who started her own successful business in 2011 after a career in design and marketing. Her gap year experience gave her the skills and confidence to forge a creative career that worked for her.
After finding her A-level experience particularly challenging, Jenny needed to take break from studying. “I found A Levels hard going and not very enjoyable,” she says. “I’d been in education for 13 years, and I needed a break from it. I wanted to get a job, earn some money, and take some time to consider my options,” she explains.
How Jenny benefited from her gap year
Although Jenny wanted to continue her studies at university, she embraced the idea of taking a gap year first. “I wanted to have the experience of working for someone and being an employee,” she says.
She had wanted to take a job during college, but her parents encouraged her to focus on her studies instead. So, taking a gap year was the perfect opportunity to gain vital work experience that would set her up for a future career. It would also give her valuable transferable skills that would help with her studies.
“Getting experience of working as part of a team would later help me with my group university projects,” she explains. “Working with the public helped rebuild some of the confidence I’d lost at school.”
While gap years are popular, some may worry that they may disrupt education or even have a negative impact later in life. But Jenny says this wasn’t the case for her. “There were no drawbacks from me taking time out before uni,” she says. “It was the best decision for me at the time and my parents supported that.”
How to prepare for a gap year
There are many options for anyone considering a gap year. For Jenny, she wanted to enjoy a care-free summer after college, so she took off the summer holidays, and then started her job hunt in the Autumn of 1993.
Another challenge during a gap year is being able to cover living costs without direct support from parents or having any student financing to help support you. This is why working to pay your way is an important part of the gap year experience. Jenny was looking forward to gaining financial independence, so she took on a full-time job, while paying rent to stay at her parent’s house in Leicestershire, where she still lives.
And what about her parents? Did they have any concerns about her taking time away from higher education? “No, my parents understood my decisions to take some time out and were supportive of that,” says Jenny.
Gap year challenges
Jenny thoroughly enjoyed her gap year, which brought her immense benefits, but there were still challenges, such as finding employment. “I found it hard to get a job without experience, and my A Levels seemed to make me overqualified for some entry-level jobs,” she explains.
This is a common challenge for young adults when they first enter the world of work. However, by persevering in her job hunt Jenny was able to find employment in an opticians, which gave her valuable experience working with the general public.
Taking time before continuing higher education also requires young adults to communicate effectively with universities. Jenny didn’t know whether uni was the right path for her at the time of her gap year, so hadn’t applied for any places prior to taking time away from education. However, students have the option of deferring any offers they receive for up to one year, at the discretion of the university.
They will need to contact the university and seek agreement for a deferral. It’s a good idea for applicants to explain the reasons for taking a gap year to demonstrate that although they are taking some time away, they are still committed to their studies when the time is right.
Lessons from Jenny’s gap year
Every gap year experience is different, so what were the key takeaways for Jenny?
“It gave me an opportunity to experience the real world outside of education,” she explains. “It also helped me learn important life skills outside of a typical educational setting.” As well as broadening her horizons and teaching her key skills, it was important for Jenny to follow her own path to academic success, even if it wasn’t typical. “Doing what feels right and makes you happy is extremely valuable,” says Jenny.
How gap years can impact future opportunities
Young adults who have recently left school or college behind haven’t always made their mind up about what they want to get out of life. Jenny’s gap year helped her discover her own interests and realise how much she would benefit from going to university once it was over.
“My gap year made me realise that I wasn’t going to be satisfied with just any job,” she explains. “I realised I wanted a career and to be doing something creative. It gave me the kick I needed to apply to university and get my degree.”