Is a Gap Year for you?
At the end of high school, I seriously considered taking a gap year. Can you guess what was one of the main reactions this desire elicited? Usually, shock, often confusion, and usually followed by an assumption that (gasp) you don’t have everything figured out at the ripe old age of 18.
The Skills Gap year differs a bit from the well-known Gap year. It isn’t simply a way to loaf around for a year before starting your “grown-up life”. THe Skills Gap year can be an enriching, life-changing experience.
Gap years aren’t just for those who are uncertain about their career choice but also for those who want to invest some time in themselves
What is the difference between a Gap year and our Skills Gap year?
When people hear GAP year, they usually conclude that you are taking a year off. The definition of a Gap Year is a period, typically an academic year, taken by a student as a break between school and university or college education.
The Skills Gap Year is a program designed to prepare students for their first year of higher education. It is a year where students engage in different courses, travel, work experience, and volunteer work. It’s taking the time to develop your emotional and practical skills to prepare you for university or entering into work life. So it's a full-bodied, holistic Gap Year.
More Gap Year questions are answered here.
You Just Want to Take Some Time
A Gap Year isn’t just for those who are uncertain about their career choice but also for those who want to invest some time in themselves. A Skills Gap Year is perfect for the person who wants to take a breather after Matric but make effective use of their time. Some people know more or less the direction they want to go with their lives but understand the value of taking time to invest in themselves.
It’s always a good idea to give yourself some space to grow and gain perspective. A year like this can open your eyes to new possibilities that you may not even have considered before.
This program offers a wide variety of courses, experiences, travel, and volunteer work. This will enable you to get to know yourself better and grow through experiences.
That’s the wonderful thing about a gap year, you will leave the year with direction and maturity.
Uncertainty About Your Future
If you have doubts about a career choice or path of education and think that maybe you’re doing it for someone else (to impress your peers or make your parents happy), then do not, I repeat, do not pursue it! And if you chose a particular career path for the promise of future riches, you are making a humongous mistake.
Hear me out, these things will not last in the long run, they won’t keep you glued to your books or staying the necessary extra hours when temptations are running high, and believe me, they will be running high. “But I’m different, I can make it work and I’m quite persistent.” Well, that’s wonderful! Maybe you can stick it out and even finish that degree. This may lead to you being miserable because you’re not getting job satisfaction.
Now, I’m not saying that whatever you’re considering doing isn’t meant to be. But don’t you want to give yourself some space to explore, experience and then decide?
That’s where a gap year comes in. A gap year gives you that necessary break away from high school and those who may have influenced you in making this vital decision. If you take a year to work on yourself and figure out who you are and what you are passionate about, you will be able to choose more confidently which course you want to take with your life.
How Will a Skills Gap Year Benefit Me?
Taking a year for personal development, courses, volunteer work, job shadowing, travel, and experiences. That’s what the skills gap year is all about. This Gap Year offers helpful courses for personal development as well as work skills courses and allows you to get work experience in a variety of different fields. You also have the opportunity to join our internship programs after completing your year.
For more info -
Article by
Katia Theron
