When we were younger, we all wanted to achieve a lot of things in life. You may have dreamt of becoming a doctor, an actress, a news reporter, and so on.
However, upon entering college, one may start feeling this pressure due to a lot of reasons. But, mainly because the major we decided on was somehow our stepping stone towards our future careers. With that, it led to this notion that we have to give our best in everything we do in school. Of course, we would always think that the grades we got would reflect how we are as students.
As the years go by and graduation day arrives, one starts having a lot of mixed emotions. In a way, you’re now able to breathe a little sigh of relief. You survived college, and you’re now on your way to getting your degree. But, what’s next?
That’s pretty much one of the most dreaded questions for a young adult. Some might think it’s best to jump into the workforce and get things started immediately. But, others might choose to lay low for a little while and enjoy a few months to do other things.
Taking Some Time Off
As a fresh graduate, you’ve spent most of your life studying in school. So, I understand that a lot of individuals like you tend to feel burnt out. This is why others may decide to take some time off. And that’s completely fine. In a way, this allows you to look back on your goals and think of the next path you plan on taking.
You may want to undergo a gap year program. Not only will this expose you to a new environment, but you’ll also have the chance to develop more skills. You may even discover a passion for other things. The experiences you gain are something completely different than what you learned within the four walls of your classroom. You’ll even get to interact with your fellow gap assistants.
A new environment means different culture. Let’s say you decide to go to Australia. You could use this time to immerse with the locals. On top of that, you also get to discover the places you can visit and activities you can do during your stay. You may be a thrill seeker and want to give outdoor adventures a try, from climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge to snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef.
And since you’re spending time in a place away from your home, you start becoming more independent as well. Yes, there would be people who would guide you. But the fact that you decided to take on this new challenge already helps you grow as an individual. Eventually, this would lead to more opportunities.
Standing Out
Upon finishing your program, you would probably start considering applying for a job. By now, you already have an idea as to what type of field you plan on pursuing. Yes, you may have a lot of competition out there. But, this is where the benefit of taking a gap year comes in. As mentioned, this helps provide skills that no classroom activity can. So in a way, you already have a chance of standing out.
The activities you participated in are all unique. So, employers would find you more interesting. Remember that not all achievements need to be academic-related. Life skills and how you work with people would also play a big role once you start working. Compared to memorising answers for certain questions, you learn how to think out of the box. You start seeing things from different points of view. Which, that in itself, is already a remarkable asset.
Of course, you already know what it means to be a part of a team. Whether you were a leader or a member, you know how to adapt. There might have been instances when you needed to take risks as well. Along with that, you know that such choices might come with some consequences. So, you also learned how to accept criticisms from others. And these are pretty much the skills that every employer looks for.
No Need to Rush
Life decisions can give us too much pressure at times, from choosing which college to attend to picking a major and finally landing a job. This is why it’s okay to take a break. Allowing yourself to step back would open you up to more possibilities. Meeting new people and exploring new places would widen your perspective. And eventually, with those life experiences, you’ll get to succeed later on in life.
