As a parent, it is your duty to give advice to your teen. Nowadays, most teens consider a gap year after they complete High School. A gap year is a year of inactivity as far as studies and, to some extent, work is concerned.
As a parent, do you know enough about a gap year? Here are some of the questions that you may need to be answered:
- Is taking a gap year a good idea?
- Do colleges look down on gap years?
- What are the disadvantages of taking a gap year?
- What jobs can one do in a gap year?
- Are students who take a gap year more successful?
- Is it harder to get into college after a gap year?
- Can you apply to university after a gap year?
- How do you know if a gap year is for your teen?
- How can I make money in a gap year?
Is Taking A Gap Year A Good Idea?
Yes, taking a gap year is a good idea for your teen. Here is why:
- Enough time to think and plan about the future
- Exploring the world
- Independence
- Follow a passion
- Discover himself
Enough Time To Think And Plan About The Future
A gap year can give your teen time to think and plan what he would like to do in the future. That year is enough for them to have decided what they want to pursue. Is it further education, work or a learnership?
If it is to study further, what is he or she going to study? What career does your teen want to pursue? It will also be good for you to sit your teen down and advise on what they can consider doing.
Exploring The World
If you can afford it, it will be good for your teen to travel and explore the world. Meeting new people and new cultures can make your teen have a new perspective on life and the people living around the world. There are some affordable ways that your teen can use to travel the world.
Here are some of the agencies, that temporarily offer work abroad, and can assist in this regard:
Independence
During the gap year, your teen will learn to be independent. The gap year can fully prepare your teen for adulthood. Remember, teens always like to be independent and this is an opportunity for you to see if he or she is on the right track to independence.
Follow A Passion
A gap year can afford your teen to follow his or her passion. What is your teen passionate about? A gap year can be used to discover more about his passion. Is it time to dig deep to find more about his passion.
Discover Themselves
Your teen can also use the gap, year to find themselves. The person he or she really is. The gap year is the ideal time for your teen to discover herself/himself. Here is how your teen can discover herself/himself:
- A good start will be to try visualising their ideal self
- Explore their passion
- Try new things
- Evaluate and gain more skills
- Identify what they value about themselves
- Ask questions about themselves
- Learn something new
Do Colleges Look Down On Gap Years?
No, most colleges and universities do not look down on the idea of a gap year. Colleges and universities are increasingly becoming open to the idea of students taking a gap year. Some institutions of higher learning are recognising the value that a gap year can add to a student.
This is because a gap year can develop a number of skills. Some research shows that students who had a gap year quickly adjust to college and university lifestyles
What Jobs Can One Do In A Gap Year?
Here are the jobs that your teen can do in a gap year:
- Au pair
- Bartender
- Barista
- Cruise ship staff
- Volunteer
- Sports coach
- Working holiday
- Teach children
- Waiter/waitress
Are Students Who Take A Gap Year More Successful?
Most students who take a gap year seem to become more successful. As the practice becomes more common, education experts are studying this trend more closely. At the moment, however, there are no statistics that support this belief.
Is It Harder To Get Into College After A Gap Year?
No, it is not harder to get into college after a gap year. Most colleges accept students who would have taken a gap year. In fact, the number of years you enrol at college after High School is not a part of the issues that determine if you can be accepted into college or not.
Can You Apply To University After A Gap Year?
Yes, your teen can apply to university after a gap year. The chances of your teen’s admission are no lesser than that of a student that would not have taken a gap year. In fact, taking a gap year can strengthen your admission chances.
It is possible the Admissions Office can be impressed with the practicals and skills development that your teen attained during the gap year.
How Do You Know If A Gap Year Is For Your Teen?
A gap year can be good for every teen. According to experts, If your teen seems “mature enough” to know they are not ready to leave home yet, or, if your teen wants to “take on the world before college,” a gap year might be the answer.
How Can I Make Money In A Gap Year?
The following activities can make your teen money in a gap year:
- Teach sports
- Work in a holiday resort
- Bar or waiter/waitress work
- Blogger
- Work in a hostel or hotel
- Photography
- Be an instructor
- Freelance
- Work on a cruise ship
Author: Collin Wilbesi
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: June 22, 2022