Taking a gap year is a decision that is far from simple. An unconventional path after finishing high school, a gap year can prove to be a major turning point in your education and career.
On the one hand, a gap year can provide a student with much-needed time to explore their interests and recognize the career they wish to pursue. Engaging in recreational activities, traveling, and nurturing your creative side can also mean that you begin the next chapter of your education with a reinvigorated mind and are able to perform better.
On the other hand, taking a gap year can lead to restlessness and uncertainty as you watch your peers take the next step, leaving you behind. Additional issues like family expectations and financial concerns may cause you to rethink your decision along the way.
However, if you’ve decided to take a gap year or are currently considering it, it’s important to plan for it instead of rambling through it aimlessly. Besides browsing college course catalogs and preparing for admissions tests, here are a few things you can do to emerge from your gap year as an improved version of yourself.
Learn new skills through online courses
One of the best things you can do during your gap year is enroll in online courses that teach you a new skill. Popular platforms like Udemy, Coursera, MIT OpenCourseWare, and edX offer courses from top institutions on every subject under their roof.
Some obvious suggestions would be to improve your technical abilities by learning coding, web development, or graphic design. Search engine optimization, project management, and product management are also great additions to your skillset if you’re looking to start making money. For those interested in business and entrepreneurship, Coursera courses from the Wharton School of Business and Economics and Finance courses from Khan Academy are some suggestions to consider. The Google IT Support Professional Certificate from Coursera is a stepping stone for those considering joining the tech industry. If you’re having trouble getting used to online course materials, YouTube is always a great place to start learning.
Start an internship
An internship is one of the most valuable things you can add to your gap year to-do list. In addition to gaining much-needed experience that gives you an edge over other candidates in the eyes of recruiters, you get the opportunity to learn the do’s and don’ts of a workplace. The key to securing an internship is to always be on the lookout for opportunities on sites like LinkedIn and use any connections you may have. With both large and young companies offering internships, it’s safe to say that everyone can find something that interests them.
Volunteering
Volunteering is another extracurricular activity perfect for someone on a gap year. You can volunteer for a charity for a cause you care about and come home with new connections and the satisfaction of doing a good deed. You can also volunteer to help organize events, concerts, and college fairs that will help you develop soft skills like problem solving and time management.
To learn a new language
Whether you plan to study in a country where the primary means of communication is not English or you intend to work and settle somewhere outside your own country, the ability to speak a new Language will be an important tool in your arsenal. After choosing a language to become more proficient in, you have the choice between enrolling in classes at a language teaching institution or learning it online through platforms like Duolingo. Either way, learning a new language will give you the satisfaction of being trilingual and will be a great source of mental stimulation.
Increase your financial literacy
If you have started earning money and are privileged to be able to save some of it, it is important to consider a savings plan. Being able to make informed financial decisions is something too many people learn too late in life, so the sooner you learn, the better. Reading books and articles while collecting financial advice from those around you can be a good start. Investing your money to grow the amount and investing your time to learn how to manage your money are two choices you will never regret.
Jaiyana Chowdhury is a student at International Hope School Bangladesh.
