A Strong Foundation Building For Your Child Is A Must: Start Before It’s Too Late

Acing the 10th class board exams by sweet 16; school farewell before the 18th birthday; graduation by 22; and an enviable job before hitting 25 – sounds perfect, right! Nothing could be better if you wanted it this way. But what if you want to take a break en route – like a gap year after 12th? 

So, are you in a dilemma to take or not to take a gap year? This is certainly a question that needs the right reasons to qualify as an option.

School to Graduation

What is a Gap Year?

A gap year, also called a sabbatical year, is a semester or a full year break a student takes after completing class 12; and before joining an undergraduate degree. 

While one year is usual, in some cases the break may extend beyond this period.

Do students take a Gap Year?

Of course! Lots of students across the world; especially in the USA, UK, Australia, and Europe take a gap year after completing high school. 

In India too, many students take a gap year after 12th grade. But it’s far less a number than that abroad. 

Besides we have a lot more concerned stakeholders in our country – the parents, the school, and the society at large, who needs to know if the ‘Why’ of such decisions is justified.

In Univariety’s own experience, the last few years have seen at least 3% of the total school pass-outs taking a gap year after their class 12 completion. 3% across the many schools in the network, all over the country adds up to a very significant number. 

Elon Musk Gap Year

Elon Musk spent a year travelling extensively, before joining college. (Pic credit: wikimedia commons)

Reasons To Take A Gap Year

A gap year must be purely a period to spend time with yourself. And to learn and experience something truly meaningful to you.

This gap could be the chance to know what suits you best or what new fields have in store for you – without any bias.

J K Rowling Gap Year

J K Rowling had taken a gap year while she was teaching (Pic credit: wikimedia commons)

Many students take a year or two off for:

Academic Reasons

– To prepare for entrance exams, like engineering/ medicine/ law or any other professional courses. 

– To prepare for studying abroad or attain the age as fixed by overseas university for admissions.

– Repeat the tests after a year to secure better marks and then qualify for admissions.

– Apply again to universities (if rejected previously) and try admission luck again

– Enroll in internships or certificate programmes to qualify for overseas courses or specific Indian programmes. 

– Explore the most suitable or new-age career options

Discover self

 Know Yourself Reasons 

You read it right! There’s no meaning in taking a gap year unless you spend time with yourself and discover what you really want to do in life – or at least what you don’t mind doing.

This period could help you:

– Clear your head 

Especially if you have many suggestions from friends, family, and ONLINE searches!

– Learn new skills or strengthen existing ones

Explore other streams of work or passion which you may not have liked or considered before.

– Discover Yourself 

To know your real potential outside the comfort zone of school or home.

– Research & Clarity

Have a clear picture of the changing employment and job market scenarios; and then focus.

– Plan for your passion

It’s a wonderful time to plan on taking your passion forward and considering it as a career.

– Build your college profile.

Make up for the extracurricular activities, volunteer work, projects, and internships to gain the hands-on experience you may have missed out on during regular school days. 

The 2020 Gap Year

March 2020 has changed everyone’s life. Hence, it is no surprise that there has been a surge in the number in the number of gap year takers in recent months.

Many course commencements and semesters got delayed by a good three to four months last year; while overseas admissions took a big hit.

Therefore, we are seeing an unprecedented number of gap year takers since June 2020.

Downside Of Taking A Gap Year

Some things may have to take a backseat or can be temporarily affected after taking a gap year after 12th.

For starters, having spent many years in a structured study environment of a school, it could take some time to plan your time and maintain a personal discipline.

Possible challenges while taking a gap year are:

– Valuable time lost

That is if you don’t know what to do or how to use this period. Hence ensure that you make this break a productive period.

Affects admission age limit 

Some courses and universities have a restriction for entry level age.

– Losing academic momentum

This is perhaps the most common reason why elders or ‘well-wishers’ discourage a gap year. Ensure you keep the academic tempo going during and after the gap year.

– Feeling less motivated

In addition to the reason above, the onus of being always motivated is on you – and much higher than in your school days.

– Increased dependency on family support

While family support is essential, one must not become too dependent, or put pressure on them. That would be demotivating for your family as well as you.

– Financial independence may take a hit.

You may start earning a year or more later than your friends. So, a well-planned budget and timeline can definitely help in this period.

– Higher Cost of Studies

Universities do hike their fees or change scholarship structures from time to time. Joining the course or college of your choice a year later would mean that you may end up paying more after a gap year.

– Catch up with peers

Due to the time lag in getting placed, securing a job, or starting your own venture, you may feel pressured to make up for the gap. And may have to work a bit harder than your peers to catch up with their salaries, job titles and achievements.

Consider a Gap YearShould You Consider It?

“Those who say ‘Yes’ are rewarded by the adventures they have, and those who say ‘No’ are rewarded by the safety they attain. “- Keith Johnstone 

School alumni on the Univariety network, who had taken a gap year commonly feel that since this was an opportunity to introspect:

– Hence, a gap year helps one be more committed to the profession.

– There are lesser doubts or confusion in choosing career streams.

– They enjoy their work more than they expected.

– Therefore gap takers are more satisfied with their jobs than other peers.

– It’s a smart decision. After starting work life, there may not be many chances to take time off (at least not until gaining a few years of experience). 

Your questions answered

When you meet your interviewer or professor, can you tell if they had taken a gap year in their life or not? Well not really! 

So, if you wish to defer a year’s education; a gap that could positively enrich your experience and skills, then you don’t have to think much about going ahead with your decision.

But the caveat is that you must do it for the right reasons and invest the time in yourself – productively! 

If you are looking for someone who can guide you on how to prepare for a gap year or if it’s even the right choice for you, then feel free to talk to our experienced counsellors about it.

 

Nisha Ramachandran

Nisha is an ex-banker, who has also worked in the IT industry. Being a 'chai ke saath book' lover, she decided to take forward her love for writing through blogs. When she's not making her own DIY cosmetics and jewellery, she tries growing her own veggies at home and experiments with new ways to reuse trash. An avid yoga enthusiast, she is also a trained instructor.

5 Comments

    • Avatar

      Thank you so much, Sir. Hope it helps students – and parents too, to make a well-informed decision.

  1. Avatar
    Ram S Nalandula Reply

    Excellent article on a concept well accepted but unfamiliar to indian students and parents.A welcome break could be launchpad for fullthrust motivation to pursue the interest of the heart and head .It is a blueprint to succeed! Congrats !?

    • Avatar

      Thank you so much, Sir. That’s right – most students in our country are encouraged not to take a break year. But it could help students commit to their passion and choices better and stick to them in the long-run.

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