Should You Take on a Global Gap Year?

Gap years are a perfect time for self-discovery and exploration. It opens up a multitude of alternative avenues and opens up the mind to the possibilities that the world has to offer. We're all enclosed in the little bubble that we know as home. As comfortable as that may sound, it's probably preventing us from encountering the little details that life has to offer.

So what exactly is a gap year?

A gap year is best described as dedicating a significant period of time, usually a whole year, to immerse yourself into something unorthodox and gain a unique perspective. This usually means going on a backpacking trip, enlisting in a volunteer program, or even enriching yourself with an internship. To be honest, it could even be as simple as diligently and deliberately drowning yourself in books and films for months. The activity itself, however, shouldn't be regarded to be important than your objective.

A gap year sounds great, but what are the benefits?

In today's social media-addicted society, snapping a few Instagram-worthy pictures on your gap year may seem like the most attractive thing about it.

But what you learn during a gap year is far more profound than what you expect. It's probably so deep that it might not even be applied to academics or a career. No, that isn't its focus.

Taking a gap year will expand your horizons beyond cultural barriers by forcing you into an adventure through foreign places and ideas. Its an opportunity to befriend strangers and listen to their stories, some of them so unbelievable that no one from home would have ever believed it. A gap year is an avenue that's designed to teach what can't be taught in a traditional classroom environment. It's so much more than looking through picture perfect photographs of your friends' travels.

Ultimately, it's an experience that teaches unforgettable lessons that'll be etched into your memory.

I'm sold, but how do I take a gap year?

Unfortunately, taking a gap year might not be in the best interest of individuals who have priorities to commit. If you aren't confident in your decision, it's always recommended to do some research to prevent yourself from doing something that you might regret.

Otherwise, your first step is to find out what you want to obtain or achieve from it, whether it's a certain skill or a specific kind of experience. After that, you can determine what type of activity or program you can immerse yourself in and you can begin to submit some applications.

A gap year can be as phenomenal as you want it to be, and it may very well prove itself to be equally rewarding. The real question is, do you want to take the chance?