Although many students still go straight from school to university or training college, the popularity of taking a ‘year off’ or ‘gap year’ is growing, particularly in the developed world.

Entering further study at a slightly more mature age, often with experience of working with less privileged people can mean you appreciate it more and take it more seriously.
Time away from school and exam focus allows you to reflect, take stock and perhaps make a choice which is more suitable for the life you actually want to live, or based on what you see as the availability of employment rather than one geared to what academic subjects you excel in.

Parents often fear that if their child does not go straight to university then they may never go. In a small number of cases this does happen, but usually because the individual has found a rewarding life path that they want to follow. Part of the enormous responsibility of parenthood is allowing your child to become an individual in their own right, with their own dreams and goals. There are many excellent organizations who provide ‘gap year’ experiences but many individuals are capable of setting up opportunities for themselves, whether in voluntary work, work experience or travel.

Personally I went to university at 17, didn’t appreciate it, took 3 years off afterwards before returning to train as a teacher. My brother left his first course in engineering (applied for with parental pressure), went back to night school, and re-applied to do ecology. He is now very happy and also playing an important role in the preservation of the environment. (I think my dad understands!)

One of the difficult and sensitive tasks that face a school is supporting students to make decisions about their future careers. In a good school this is based on a student’s talents, both academic and personal, but also on discussion and reflection about their personal goals. We do also have to be realistic however and guide them on the availability of possible future employment, again a task fraught with difficulties as we live in a constantly changing world.

The one suggestion I would make, if your child raises the idea of taking a ‘gap’ year is to talk this through with them, identifying what their goals are for the year. As parents do fear, it is very easy for the time to be frittered away. Young people can have very strong ideas but do appreciate guidance and direction in making them happen. And one word of warning – do check out so called ‘volunteering agencies’ quite carefully. Often they require a large amount of fundraising which does not actually go to the project or community but feeds into large business salaries in London and other places. Careful questioning will ensure that hard-raised money is used to the best effect.

Some possible ‘gap’ year activities
Live abroad with a family and learn a further language from scratch
Pick up new skills – become a ski/watersports instructor, take a crew course and do yacht deliveries
Work on a conservation project
Take on an internship to try out a possible career
Take a TESOL course and teach English in different parts of the world
Take on paid work and plan a once-in- a life-time world trip
Volunteer in your local area
Participate on an expedition or humanitarian project
Study Art in Italy
And many many more…….

Personal skills and qualities which can be developed
Independence
Financial awareness/management
Forward planning
Personal organisation
Responsibility/personal awareness
Empathy and respect for others

Some useful websites
www.i-to-i.com
www.gap year.com
www.yearoutgroup.org
www.globalservicecorps.com
www.softpowereducation.com (Uganda based)

The year can be a time of enormous self growth. The main benefit of taking a ‘gap’ year is that it allows the young adult to reflect and make more meaningful choices about their life direction. At first you might not recognize the assured, independent individual who returns to you after this experience, but your child will always be there, just much more confident in themselves and what they want out of life.

And just in case you fancy one yourself, now that the kids are off your hands … check out www.GapYearForGrownUps.co.uk . You never know, you might find out something interesting about yourself!

Kirsten Durward
PYP Co-ordinator
International School of Uganda