Results: Gap Year For Personal Growth

A gap year, also known as a sabbatical year, is a year's break between high school and college/university, aimed at promoting a mature outlook with which to absorb the benefits of higher education. It also indicates a break before entry into graduate school. Did you take a gap year?

Gap Years originally started in the United Kingdom in the 1970's as a way to fill the 7 or 8 month gap between final exams and the beginning of university. The intention in the UK for that time was to contribute to the development of the student usually through an extended international experience. Gap Years came to the United States in the early 1980's through the work of Cornelius H. Bull, founder of Interim Programs. Since its transition to the United States, Gap Years have taken on a life of their own - now embodying every manner of program and opportunity imaginable, both domestically and internationally, all with the shared purpose of increasing self-awareness, learning about different cultural perspectives, and experimenting with future possible careers. Since their broader acceptance into the American system of education, they have served the added benefit of ameliorating a sense of academic burnout. In fact, in a recent study, one of the two biggest reasons Gap Year students chose to take a Gap Year was precisely to address academic burnout. (Info from American Gap Association). Do you think that taking a gap year sounds beneficial to students?

There are hundreds of programs tailored specifically for gap year experiences, which last from one week to one year, either close to home or abroad. I am in the middle of a gap year (between my undergrad degree and grad school) and have decided to go to Sri Lanka on a Psychology based Volunteer opportunity. I will be working alongside mental health professionals in a tsunami-affected area of the country. I feel this will not only help me in my chosen field of clinical health psychology, but also give back to others, even if in a small way. I have also signed up for a weekend Elephant experience, where we get to actually play with elephants, as well as care for the babies, and elderly elephants. Does this sound like a greet opportunity?

Here are a few other gap year programs that are offered through various organizations. If you had the opportunity which would you like to do?

These programs are very affordable, and so much more than just a vacation -- often the most expensive part of these programs is the airfare to get to the country. Many students opt to fund raise to offset the costs of the program, but I think it isn't right to ask others who pay for your experiences or opportunities. How do you feel about this idea?