After years of study you might need a bit of breather from all that learning. You might consider taking a gap year.
A gap year is taking time out and putting it to good use by doing something constructive, such as travelling, volunteer work, work experience or simply working to save up for university or other things.
There is a world of opportunity and career-building learning options out there that can all be of massive benefit to you.
The stereotype that it is only a few rich people that are able to take gap years couldn't be further from the truth. People are taking gap years doing a wide range of things - the possibilities are endless.
Getting a job might not be what's top of your list when you picture your dream gap year, but I have learnt that there is something to what they say about doing an honest day's work.
Firstly and perhaps most obviously, there is the fact that money matters. If you are planning on doing some travelling in your gap year, you will know that you have to earn the pennies for it somewhere. But getting your first pay is not necessarily just about saving. Earning your own money gives a great sense of independence and what doesn't go straight to the piggybank, no one will blame you for spending on yourself.
Many people simply go travelling on their gap year, but you can match this with doing something really worthwhile with some volunteering. There are many organisations offering volunteering opportunities. The good thing about them is that they won't leave you hanging - they will give you support and there will usually be a contact person in case of emergency.
If you want to volunteer as an English teacher Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) is a great organisation to go with. Alternatively, you can contact orphanages or schools yourself and that is most easily done when you're already in the country. This is usually cheaper but make sure you do a bit of research on the place to which you're going.
Make sure that they are a registered charity and that they are reliable, if you can speak to former a volunteer that's a big plus. This is perhaps extra important for anyone who wants to volunteer with animals, at for example a rescue centre. Sometimes animals are exploited at 'fake' wildlife parks that are simply after the money they can make of tourists. It is important to be aware of these things, because at the right place volunteering is definitely worth it.
The main advice when it comes to gap years is to do your research and make sure you have all you need to make the most out of your time away from education.
