Why Should You Not Be Afraid of Taking A Gap Year?

Being afraid of taking a gap year is a common theme with high school and college graduates. The predominant reason for the fear is the possibility of missing out or staying behind all of your peers who seem to be moving on with their lives quite quickly.

The majority of people who are thinking about such a brave move aren’t really confident in regards to embarking on such a life-changing journey.

The concerns and fears about a gap year are definitely valid, but usually exaggerated and filled with a variety of lame excuses. If you’re thinking about taking a gap year, you’re at the right place.

In this article, we will try to explain why no one should fear to take a gap year. There is simply nothing to be scared of, but we take in consideration that people are sometimes not in a position to afford or carry out a whole year without an actual job or other obligation, like studies.

Nevertheless, we have a solution for anyone, because, taking a gap year can change the route of your life completely. It is a valuable and useful experience we all should take advantage of.

You’ll still make friends.

Sure, because you will be away for a year, and your friends will probably move on with their lives, chances are you’ll be needing some new friends. The thought of making new friends can be apprehensive to the majority of people out there, because, it is hard to meet new people you’ll genuinely like.

However, I think that when it comes to meeting new people and eventually making friends, it is all about the mindset and the way we perceive the process of allowing people in your life. Instead of fearing loneliness and the solo journey, you can always see it as an opportunity to expand your circle of friends.

This could be an excellent opportunity to meet some of the most amazing people around the world, learn from them, and after all, share your amazing experiences, away from home.

You won’t have to spend a fortune.

Taking a gap year can be pricey, truth to be told. However, it doesn’t necessarily have to be like that, because the cost of a gap year depends on several factors, according to GoAbroad, which include the travel destination, duration of the travel, whether you are on a gap-year program, or going solo.

Even so, when it comes to taking a gap year, the fact that you don’t have money is not a problem, which is what the majority of people fear. The fact that people think that a gap year is a luxury is entirely wrong.

There are plenty of ways one can afford going away for a year. For example:

• You can always plan ahead so you won’t be traveling broke; you can try a combination of scholarships, savings from a part-time job and a family or friend raising, which should be enough to cover your gap year expenses.
• You can use smart spending strategies to save money during the gap year
• You can apply to gap-year programs that provide amazing trips for an extremely small budget; some of the best programs are Volunteering Solutions, InterExchange, High Desert Center, GapForce, Cross-Cultural Solutions, etc.

You’ll be ready for college.

One of the main fears for people who are considering taking a gap year is the probability that they still won’t be ready for college. Okay, there is a chance that could be the case, but some people aren’t simply meant to go to college, so that shouldn’t be big of a deal.

For those who find it necessary to attend college after a gap year, the truth is, if not ready, you’ll at least be closer to knowing whether or not you’ll ever be ready. But, not to scare you even more, you should know that if your personal decision was to attend college after the gap-year, you’d probably do so.

If you’re afraid that taking a gap-year will change your personal choice, then your will to go to college is just not strong enough. Either way, taking a gap-year can clear your mind about the whole college thing, so make sure not to wrap your head around it and simply enjoy the time of your life.

You’ll still get a job.

People fear unemployment after a gap-year for a reason; let’s just say, it can be tough. However, there is never really a good enough reason nor an argument for that fear. Getting a job, even without a gap-year is hard in itself, but the belief that because of the gap-year your employment possibility will be lower is a complete lie.

You can always take a look at job postings, or edubirdie review just get a better understanding of what works for you. According to GapYear, getting a post-traveling job is all about promoting your skills gained through the traveling experience. Employers always appreciate people who are open-minded and whose skills expand outside their profession or expertise.

All you have to do is simply stay persistent, send dozens of job applications, and you’ll eventually find that one company that will appreciate your background, knowledge, and skills. So, make sure to cold-call the agencies, send cover letters and proposals, tailor your CV for each specific job position and identify your qualities in regards to your rich experience.

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