How To Utilise A Gap Year

For many high school students, jumping into college can be daunting. What is a gap year? A gap year is a year-long break taken by a student after high school or college to explore or pursue their interests. In India, this tradition is popular among students who want to dedicatedly study for engineering, medical, or MBA entrances to get into prestigious colleges or universities. Students who are interested in getting government jobs also often resort to taking a gap year. However, while these have been conventional reasons to take a gap year, students are now beginning taking a gap year for reasons other than academics. A gap year can be taken to take a break from study, earn money, gain new experience/skills, follow one’s passion, or a combination of all these at once.

However, this article does not intend to push you to take a gap year when you are not convinced to, but only to destigmatise the idea of taking a gap year and suggest some good ways on how to utilise a gap year and make the most out of one.

Myths Around Taking A Gap Year

There are certain myths and misconceptions attached to taking a gap year. Let’s bust a few of them.

Can’t Go To College After Gap Year

That’s not true, you definitely can go to college. In fact, you can join college with more knowledge and self-awareness after taking a gap year. This way you are more confident about what you want, the relationships you want to build, the courses you want to take.

Taking A Gap Year Needs Money

Yes, having a sound financial background to back on will be beneficial but you can get paid to explore during this time. You can take up internships or part-time jobs to fund yourself and learn during the gap year. Utilise this time to find your passion and earn some cash on the side.

Also Read | How To Earn Money Online As A Student: Check Top 5 Ways To Make Money Online

Gap Year Is For Entrance-Takers

Anybody can take a gap year. It's not just for the wandering souls whose minds are in the mountains or those who want to crack interviews at a business school. A gap year could just be about finding yourself and doing things you couldn’t during your years of formal schooling. You can do this after school, after graduation, after starting a job, or before pursuing higher studies.

What Should You Do?

Here are some ideas on how to utilise a gap year.

Tutoring Children

If you are interested in teaching and can do well at it, then tutoring children is a good tip on how to utilise a gap year; utilise your energy, time, and also earn some pocket money. Not only it gives you a taste of independence, you would also be making a positive difference to a child’s life.

Tutoring not only gives you a taste of independence, but you would also be making a positive difference to a child’s life.

Volunteer

Another tip on how to utilise a gap year is to identify a cause you genuinely feel about, and look for NGOs that work around it. It could be anything from education for underprivileged children to welfare of roadside animals, to caring for the abandoned elderly. Begin to volunteer with the NGO and you shall feel altogether a different sense of satisfaction for making a positive contribution to the society.

Also Read | Internship: Online Work-From-Home Jobs For Students In Marketing, Design, NGOs

Paid Job/Internship

If you haven’t figured out which direction you would want your career to head in, doing a job just to cover expenses is okay while you figure it out. That is another tip on how to utilise a gap year. These are life experiences and help you build your CV.

Also Read | Why Internships Are A ‘To-Do’ Thing For High School Students

Learn A Language

Having knowledge of Mandarin, Spanish and French, few of the most sought after and desirable languages universally, can be beneficial for your career growth and development. These universal languages are widely accepted, and can give you an edge over others while seeking a job or starting a business. Learning a new language is a great suggestion in context to how to utilise a gap year.

Also Read | All You Need To Know About French Language Certifications: DELF And DALF

Passion Is Always In Fashion

Lastly, you could also use this time to work on what you really want to do so that you don’t regret later in life. As a young adult, with lesser responsibilities, it’s easier to take risks and meandre out of your comfort zone. You could be a musician, photographer, journalist, model, or probably trying your hand as a baker or an entrepreneur; you’d never know how far you can go and what you can achieve, if you never try.

Also Read | Can Children Benefit By Pursuing A Hobby?

Instead of rushing straight from school to college, or pursuing a course you don’t like, or taking a job in a field which is not of your interest; it’s better to take a step back and analyse what you really want in life. A gap year is a medium to take a break for your present and future self.

Also Read | Why Is It Not A Good Idea To Lie On Your Resume?

How to utilise a gap year? A gap year after school can change your direction in life. Taking a gap year might feel like you are left behind, while the others are enjoying campus life, and making new friends. But, on how to utilise a gap year- enjoy your own craft. It’s harder to find out who you are in a group of people who are doing the same thing. It gets easier to know your true self when you are alone as an individual and making your own decisions, taking risks and making difficult choices. So don’t be afraid to take that time off and enjoy!

Parisraja Bajpai is an Organisational Psychologist, with extensive hand-on experience in talent acquisition, talent management, employee counselling, employee engagement, training and development. She is currently heading the HR department at Nexstgo.