Plan Your Gap Year

Volunteering for different projects

There are lots of programmes offering different jobs for those looking to volunteer. You could teach English as a second language to poor children in developing countries or take part in ecological projects and enjoy being in amazing environments. A friend of mine volunteered for a wildlife project in the Caribbean to protect turtles. Turtles come ashore at night or into the early morning to lay their eggs.  She had an amazing experience being very close to giant turtles on one of the most beautiful island in the world. Often, professional organisations offer very well structured volunteering programmes for students. For example, Arsenal Football Club has an international football coaching volunteer programme that is available to certain individuals.

The list of things to volunteer for is endless and your sure to find something that interests you if this is the type of experience you are after.

Working in a holiday resort

If you want to travel some of the world’s most amazing places whilst earning a little bit of money, finding a part time job at a holiday resort is always an option worth considering. Many resorts are often on the lookout for casual staff and, you never know, they may even provide you with cheap accommodation. Take the Caribbean for example; there are many hotels constantly looking to hire casual staff. The jobs themselves will vary from resort to resort however, commonly jobs include bar work, cleaning, waiting service etc, and of which would suit someone travelling whose looking for a few extra pennies. Along the way you’ll probably meet other gap year graduates and local people who are doing a similar thing to you. Also by working as part of a resort or hotel think of the benefits and things you may be asked to do. You could be asked to attend a traditional Caribbean wedding or find yourself learning traditional dance or attending different festivals. Alternatively, if you have a specific interest you may be able to find a hotel or resort linked to your interests. For example, if you enjoy yoga, you could look to work a resort specialising in particular activities such as yoga. Just think you could possibly take advantage of the opportunity to do your favourite activity for free!  You could be a seasonal worker and find different work in different countries to widen your experiences. It is very important to plan everything in advance to avoid disappointments and time wasting. Don’t forget that it is not always possible to take a gap year later on in life, so if you have the opportunity to do it now, you should do your homework to make sure you get the maximum benefit out of it.

Internships

Internships provide both individuals and companies alike a number of benefits. For the company it is a means of accessing highly qualified and talented individuals at a reduced rate, whilst for the individual it is an excellent opportunity to experience the business world. There are lots of agencies you could apply to but if you email or call the companies direct, be sure to impress them.  Prepare a good CV and a well written cover letter explaining exactly what you are looking for, how long you can/would like to work for and why you would be suitable for the company.  Alternatively, you can search websites which advertise internship programmes directly for the companies. Some of them might be willing to pay your expenses including travel and accommodation.  Apply for as many companies as you can to increase your chance of getting accepted and start looking at least 4 months before you finish your collage degree. At the end of your internship, you can treat yourself with a well-deserved holiday!

Taking a gap is very popular amongst graduates before they start their professional lives and careers. Gap years offer great opportunities to discover new things in life, experience new cultures and generally broaden horizons. According to studies, if planned correctly, there are positive outcomes to taking a gap year.  Some that decide to take gap years can experience life changing events which would not have been possible had they stayed home. People have different reason to take a gap year and their plans vary. Some may simply wish to just to get away and travel while others enjoy volunteering for different charities overseas or try working in other countries. Alternatively, some decide to move abroad, take up a language course and totally immerse themselves in the culture of their adopted country. All in all, a gap year offers life-altering experiences and possibly opportunities that you never considered before.

It is a very exciting prospect to think that you could be out doing something different for a year. It is almost like seeing the day light for the first time after you have been locked away behind closed blinds all your life. However, you need to consider and be prepared for so many different things. Mental preparation is one of the most important aspects to consider, especially, if you plan to travel and have not been abroad on your own before. You might get lonely at the beginning which you might love or hate as time passes.  If you plan well in advance all the possibilities about what you would do during your gap year, there is a higher chance that you will really benefit from your gap year and achieve whatever goals, if any, you want to.

It’s likely that you will see and experience many new things as well as come across different situations and people that you have not encountered before.  This is why mental preparation is so important, so you can cope with these changing environments. Another important thing is to know how to protect your possessions. Do not carry lots of cash with you; always be able to control yourself, aware of what is happening around you and be aware of suspicious behaviour. If you plan to travel, consider the places you may wish to visit as they may not be safe, and bear in mind that you cannot trust everybody you meet. There are lots of specialists at travel companies to ask advice from on different subjects.