Were you admitted to a Canadian institution but opted to postpone enrollment so you could take a “Gap Year” before starting? In recent years, students migrating from upper levels of high school to university have taken a year off to explore the world.
While some people envision exotic beaches in the tropics and simply resting all day, there is more to taking a “Gap Year,” as well as several benefits and drawbacks.
Pros:
- You may learn a new language or enhance your English. If you travel to English-speaking nations, you will have the opportunity to improve your language skills.
- You get to meet new folks. You get to make new acquaintances and interact with a wide range of interesting people.
- You can discover new civilizations. You will have the opportunity to learn more about the local cultures, customs, and traditions.
- You can sample new cuisines. You get to sample a variety of new cuisine.
- You’ll have plenty of stories to share later. Your experiences will take you to new areas, which you can transform into stories for an English diary to improve your writing skills.
- It’s an excellent learning experience. Traveling can provide “hands-on” learning experiences that are not necessarily available in a classroom setting.
- You get to experience independence. If you’ve never lived away from home, this is an excellent opportunity to become more independent and learn how to care for yourself.
- It can help your resume or CV look better. You will learn new abilities that you can include on your resume or CV.
- You can test out a variety of jobs. Working while traveling to earn money allows you to learn a variety of talents that will come in handy later on.
Cons:
- You will be one year behind your contemporaries. Taking time off to vacation will result in you starting a year later than your peers.
- It involves a “leap of faith” because there may be some unknowns. When visiting new destinations, there may be details that you overlooked while planning and preparing for your trip.
- You’ll need enough money to cover travel, hotel, and meals. Unless you intend to work, you should ensure that you have saved enough money to pay all of your expenses.
- It can be stressful if you are not prepared. It is simple to feel stressed out if you do not plan and prepare ahead of time.
- You could waste a significant amount of time. If you did not start planning at the beginning of your final upper-level year, you may have to postpone your trip for several months.
There is no doubting that having a “gap year” can provide you with invaluable experience, new skills, and lifelong friendships. However, not everyone is suited to international travel.