6 good reasons to do a gap year

Many young people are at that point in their lives where they are weighing up the benefits of going straight to university or doing a gap year. In the UK certain UCAS application deadlines have passed and many students are now playing the waiting game for results, but what are the alternatives? Here we’ve presented 6 good reasons for taking a gap year.

1. There’s no hurry

Life is short but it’s also very long…. So many people think they have to go straight to uni or they must get a job straight after uni – not true! You’ve got about 40 years to work before you retire, do you really want to spend all that time working? The urge to succeed and make lots of money is understandable but you still have all the time in the world to take things easy and travel, before making your fortune.

2. Learn a new skill

There are several useful skills you can pick up on your gap year. You can learn to teach English, you can be a football coach in Africa, become a ski instructor, be a lifeguard, do charity projects, learn a new language, the list is endless.

3. Amazing experience

Leave behind your regular life for a while and go and have an amazing experience. New people, new places, new culture, new rhythm, new way of life. Take risks, take chances and come back with some good stories to tell!

4. Attractive on CV / Uni application forms

When (or if) you are ready to come back to your homeland all these experiences will looks great on any CV or uni application form. It shows that you are mature, confident, open-minded, boundless and brave.

5. Figure out what you want

Get some direction instead of going to uni just for the sake of it. Many young people head straight to uni because it’s expected of them without really knowing what they’re doing or why they’re doing it. Taking a gap year and give you perspective and focus. This also applies for people who do gap years / sabbaticals later on in life – take a break and figure out what you want to do.

6. Learn / improve a foreign language

“One language sets you in a corridor for life. Two languages open every door along the way.”

This lovely quote from Frank Smith couldn’t be more true. Learning a language on your gap year vastly increases future opportunities. In a global community language skills are highly regarded and can be handsomely rewarded in certain jobs.

It’s a common myth that gap years are very expensive and only for the rich – this isn’t necessarily true. A great way to have all these experiences and make some money at the same time is to work as a TEFL teacher. Salaries are definitely above the local average so you can even save money before heading back to your home country. Check out our TEFL courses in Barcelona and special offers for upcoming TEFL courses.