8 Ways to Spend Your Gap Year

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “gap year”? Backpacking in Europe? A break from school life? Or perhaps it’s your first time hearing the term.

Officially, a gap year is an unspecified period of time away from school, although it doesn’t even have to be a year. In light of the recent pandemic, more and more high school grads are choosing a gap year over their college plans. Others simply want to take some time for themselves before pursuing higher education.

If you’ve been considering a gap year but are unsure of how to fill your time, not to worry. There are so many rewarding experiences you can try until you’re ready for school. Keep reading for eight ways to spend your gap year.

Volunteer

Volunteering is a great way to give back while gaining life experience and new friends. You’ll also become a more passionate, caring individual as you help people who may have less than you. Volunteer in your community, or, if you love to travel, look for opportunities abroad.

Volunteer Canada partners with volunteer centres across the country to provide over 75,000 community service opportunities. You can search by location, interests, or skills. They’ve even started offering virtual opportunities during the pandemic.

Internship

Why not spend some time gaining work experience as an intern? Internships give you valuable work skills and some even allow you the opportunity to make an income. Additionally, the connections you make could help you find job opportunities in your field once you are done with school. Plus, you’ll find out early on if the particular job or industry is something you can see yourself doing long-term.

It’s also an excellent point you can add to your resume when you begin looking for jobs. Many employers are open to internships even if they don’t advertise so don’t be afraid to inquire. After all, most employers love initiative!

Working Holiday

The two most significant barriers stopping people from travelling are a lack of time and money. You could have the money but not the time for your dream vacation, or it could be the other way around. Honestly, sometimes it’s both.

Working holidays let you see the world while making an income— perfect for students taking a gap year who definitely have the time but probably not the funds.

Canada has connected with over 30 countries around the world to form the Youth Mobility Visa. Canadian youth between the ages of 18 and 35 can take working holidays and authentically experience the culture of their choice. From skiing the Swiss Alps to marvelling at Australia’s native animals, there’s something for everyone.

Domestic Travel

Like to travel but wince at the thought of visa applications or passport renewals? Exploring your home country is one of the most hassle-free (and cheapest) ways to travel.

Staying local is also great if you don’t know how long you want to travel or how long your gap year will be. The last thing you want is to run out of money, but at least you won’t be too far from home if you do.

Check out national parks, local restaurants and other hidden gems in your own backyard. If you have friends that went away to university, go visit them! They’re probably missing you, and seeing them at school could give you insight into where you’d like to go when you’re done with your gap year.

Au Pair

The term “au pair” is French for “at par” or “equal to.” An au pair is a helper from a foreign country that lives and works with a host family as a member of the family or “equal.” This can be great for anyone interested in working with children as they often take up nanny duties. As a member of the family, your room and board will likely be covered. In your free time, you’ll be able to explore the country, meet new people or take some language classes!

Check online for agencies that can connect you to host families. They can also give you useful info on things like vaccine requirements or visa applications.

The independence and cultural immersion you’ll gain as an au pair is unmatched.

Learn a New Language

Whether you take up a new language abroad or your home, you’ll be developing a better you. Communication skills are essential in every job, so being able to connect in multiple languages is always an asset.

Dive right into learning a new language abroad through total immersion or try language apps like Duolingo. Your local library may also have a language section that’s sure to help you get started.

Work

Okay, so maybe this one doesn’t sound as appealing or adventurous as the others, but it can still be rewarding. If you’d like to be your own boss, freelance work can give you independence and help you prep for future jobs. If you started a part-time job near the end of high school, maybe you’re not ready to give it up.

That’s perfectly normal. There is no set rule that says you have to go directly to a university or college after graduating. Use this time to save money and add legitimacy to your resume.

Starting a small business like blogging could be a good source of income for when you go back to school.

Take Some Time Off

Finally, why not just take a breath and just chill out – you deserve it! A lot of young adults are burnt out when they graduate high school. Why? They just finished twelve years of mandatory schooling. Don’t feel bad if the thought of jumping right back into a classroom after high school doesn’t thrill you.

Use your gap year to kick your feet up and relax and hopefully you’ll go back to school refreshed and ready.

Put Yourself Out There

Whether you plan to take a year off after high school or a gap year between semesters, the options for how you spend your time are positively endless. Use this time as an opportunity to reflect on what you really want out of life and the best course of action to get you there.

Don’t feel the pressure to have things all figured out, or even to get it right the first time. This stage in your life is all about putting yourself out there and exploring new things.