Dear High School Grads, Not Sure What to do Next Year? How About A Gap Year?
By Efe I. Shavers, Kimberly A. S. Howard, Priya C. Voetsch, Siyao Wang, & Sara Langtry
Dear High School Seniors:
We understand that you are finishing up a very challenging set of years in high school. Living and learning through COVID might have made you rethink your plans after high school or feel less confident in the path you were intending to take. Please know, many people are feeling similar uncertainty. For better or for worse, COVID encouraged many of us to re-evaluate how we are spending our time and to think deeply about what is really important to us. There are many post-high school educational pathways that people can take. Including a Gap Year.
So what is a gap year? It is an alternative to beginning college immediately following high school graduation. The goal of the gap year is to take time, either a semester or a year, to gain further knowledge, develop a new set of skills, and/or enrich your experience of the world. It can provide some valuable “distance” needed to determine what comes next for you, whether that is a decision about what type of higher education or career training you wish to pursue or what you want to study in college.
To be clear, we are not advocating against college or other post-secondary training opportunities. In fact, those who pursue some form of training post-high school increase their chances of finding stable, satisfying jobs and are less likely to experience unemployment in the future. They also benefit from higher lifetime earnings with significantly better job benefits.
We also know, though, that many people might want or need a break or some life experience before heading off to post-secondary training, studying, and careers. The important thing to keep in mind is to use your gap year intentionally – to become a more informed, well-rounded person, to clarify your work and life values, or to pursue experiences of which you have always dreamed. So here are some ideas for you to consider:
1. Find your passion: Use the year to clarify your future goals and determine how to get there. In what career fields are you interested? What qualifications do you need for these career interests? What motivates you to succeed and work hard?
2. Travel: Experience new places, new cultures, and different ways of viewing the world. Enrich yourself and increase your skills in interacting and understanding others. Expand your horizons. Check out if nearby colleges offer study abroad programs, as you may be able to travel while gaining college course credits.
3. Gain real life experiences: Internships or fellowships, either paid or unpaid, can help to clarify interests and see the connection between college majors and future occupations. Shadowing professionals in occupations that align with your personal interests, may be eye opening and enlightening. Maybe take some classes at a nearby community college!
4. Give yourself to others: Volunteer, support your community, make a difference in the lives of others. Using your time to help your community may help you to realize where your interests and passions lie.
5. Hone a hobby: Is there anything that you wanted to learn, but didn’t have the time to do? Now is your opportunity! Learn a language, an instrument, how to cook, etc. The options are endless.
Any of these ways to use a gap year are useful. Determine your purpose for taking a gap year and what you how to achieve. Create a plan and make it happen. And if what you are needing is a break, take one by doing something that deliberately supports your development as a person. End your gap year stronger and more centered than you were when you began. There is no specific timeline for achieving your goals and growing as a person. Forge your own path ahead and see what the world can offer.
And then when you are ready to pursue college, career training, employment, or whatever comes next, don’t be afraid to share what you learned or experienced during this year. Wishing you the best of luck!
Sincerely,
Boston University Center for Career Readiness
