Taking a Gap Year? a Taste of the Non-conventional

For many people a Gap Year is their only opportunity to do something non-conventional before delving into university or 9-5 employment. Many people consider a Gap Year a last hurrah before a string of responsibilities set in, such as school debts, mortgages, and marriages.

Need a break? Need a bit more time to discover who you really are and what you want to do? A gap year might be the right recipe, so now you have to decide what you'd like to do. The opportunities are endless, and they are all very tempting. A modern Gap Year tends to involve a healthy mix of volunteer work, educational travel and relaxation. How does learning Spanish in Guatemala sound? Have you ever dreamt of working with Big Game in Africa? There are orphanages in Nepal that could use your help, or perhaps you've always wanted to dive on the Great Barrier Reef.

More and more young people are taking the opportunity to take a year out before continuing their education or embarking upon careers whether it is to work, study or travel. These are what have come to be known as "Gap Years" or a "Year Out", an idea that has been popular for many years in the UK and Germany and that is catching on phenomenally in the USA. For many people, a Gap Year is a chance to see the world, visit other countries, learn new skills or do voluntary work. Gap Year travellers enrich themselves while also giving their CV/résumé a real boost. While traditionally a Gap Year referred to the time before starting university, young people now take Gap Years during university, after university, before settling down with a "real job" or pretty much whenever they feel like it.

Finding money a deterrent? Wait until you have a mortgage and a family! If you don't win the lottery and your family isn't particularly keen on funding your adventure, then get a job. If you are considering a volunteering program then the opportunities for fund raising are endless. Alternatively, there are opportunities where you can spend time abroad and actually earn a paycheck!

A properly planned gap year can be one of the most rewarding, challenging and exciting periods in your life. However, a well planned gap year takes a considerable amount of work, and it's important to ask yourself the following questions:

• Where do you want to go?
• What do you want to do? Volunteer? Learn a new skill? Speak a language?
• How will you fund your gap year and how much money will you have to work with?
• How long do you want to go?
• Will you be happier going by yourself or with friends? 

Ready to go?

A host of Gap Year programs await you. If you fancy a program, do your homework about the organisation. If you have any doubts, ask for alumni references. Farewell and have fun!!