Why taking a gap year can be a good thing

SO your school leaver has told you they want to take a gap year. Before you have visions of them partying their way around Europe and returning home totally unfocused, this expert reveals why a gap year could be the best decision they can make.

IF your teen tells you they want to take gap year, it could be a good thing.

While you may think taking 12 months off will leave them lagging behind their peers, research shows that gap years are becoming more common in Australia.

University of New South Wales Educational Psychology Professor Andrew Martin said around one in four Australian students take a gap year.

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He said the biggest reason students take a year off is because they’re unsure what do after high school.

The stress associated with completing their VCE can also play a role.

“A lot of students are burnt out, they’ve had a gutful, and they just need to recharge,” he said.

Many students take gap years because they don’t know what field they want to pursue a career in.

Despite the increasing rates, Professor Martin said gap years aren’t for everyone, and the time they are taken will differ from person to person, whether that is before, during or after university.

He said there are three things your young person should take into consideration when deciding whether to take a gap year.

“The type of person you are, the type of gap year you take, and when you take it; that will feed into a good decision,” he said.

“There’s no more powerful a decision than one you’ve made for yourself.”

For those who do take a year off, there are plenty of benefits.

The stress of VCE can be a motivator for a gap year. Picture: Istock

MORE MOTIVATION

Professor Martin said many students who take a gap year enrol in a university course first, then defer.

He said taking a gap year can give them clarity about the career they want to pursue.

“Some parents say ‘what if they come back and change courses?’,” he said.

“If that course wasn’t for them, they’d have only gotten to about second year, anyway.” “They’re going to jump ship because they’re a very independent, free-minded generation.”

Professor Martin said while going straight to university is a valid pathway for most students, some don’t make the most of it, treating it more like another year of high school.

“We need them to be engaging differently with university, but they don’t,” he said.

Almost 14% of first-year uni students in Victoria do not continue their study into the following year.

Professor Martin said students who take gap years are more likely to be motivated to complete their degree than those who go straight from high school to university.

“A lot of people say it’s a distraction from their pathway, but a lot of people — intentionally or unintentionally — are doing things that are part of that pathway, in an informal sense,” he said.

“You come to value what we have in this country, and you value what post-school education gets you.”

A gap year can improve a young person’s social skills and confidence.

MORE TIME TO TRAVEL

Professor Martin said the ease of international travel has also contributed to the increase in young people taking gap years.

“The world has shrunk in the sense that with the internet, you can see places before you go to them,” he said.

“If you went over in the 1970s or 80s you’re out in deep space; now you can easily stay in contact with your family.”

Aside from the enjoyment that comes with experiencing other cultures, Professor Martin said travelling during a gap year can teach your teen new things.

“You will develop social skills and meet a diversity of people that will help you in whatever job you’ll do when you come back,” he said.

Professor Martin said travelling during a gap year will also test your young person’s resilience.

“You learn how to deal with adversity,” he said.

“You will likely get quite sick and you won’t be at home to be looked after, and it’s likely someone will grab your credit card number and you’ll be cleaned out for a few days.”

Professor Martin said if your teen’s motivation to take a gap year is stronger than their fear of adversity, they’ll prosper.

“If you’re not up to that, it’s gonna hit you hard,” he said.

For those who are concerned their young person isn’t ready to live in a foreign country by themselves, Professor Martin said they should consider a more structured gap year program.

Depending on where in the world your teen wants to go, they can volunteer as a school assistant, community worker, outdoor activities instructor, English teacher or medical assistant.

The placements typically provide accommodation, meals and a living allowance, meaning your young person will still have a support system in place while they’re overseas.

Taking a year off may actually increase your child’s employability.

MORE TIME TO LEARN

Taking a gap year can be a great time for your young person to get some work experience, especially if they want to save up money to pay for their studies.

Even if your teen doesn’t get paid work, Professor Martin said taking a gap year can give them a bit of an edge with employers.

“Employers and unis are sending the message that we sort of don’t want you to go straight to uni, then to a career,” he said.

“If the timing is right and it’s the right type of gap year, you can develop really important soft skills, become more independent, more self-directed, and more self-responsible,” he said.

Professor Martin said young people may also learn some hard skills.

“You might go to Japan to learn Japanese, for example,” he said.