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Why take a gap year? | 12 reasons and planning tips
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Jun 5, 2025
Why take a gap year? Taking a gap year after high school is becoming more and more popular, with many colleges now encouraging students to do so. Some proponents even argue that a gap year, or a year of service before starting college, should be mandatory for all students! Despite the advantages of taking a gap year, many students don't fully understand the concept of a gap year. You may believe it involves traveling aimlessly and wasting time — but that's a common misconception. So what is a gap year exactly? And what are the pros and cons of taking a gap year? Watch the video to find out. #Podcasts #SelfImprovement #Nature #MentalHealth #Mindset #Youtuber #Wellbeing
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whether you're wrapping up your high
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school Journey or taking the stage at
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your college ceremony graduating is an
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enormous accomplishment
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you should be happy with who you are
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even though it's wonderful to recognize
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your accomplishments you can be left
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wondering what to do with the rest of
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your life it's possible that you're
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starting a degree program or going to
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trade school it's possible that you're
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starting your job right immediately and
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working these are both acceptable
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options but there is a third one taking
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a gap year you're approaching adulthood
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and taking some time off allows you to
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travel and learn to know yourself
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outside of the classroom
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after you graduate giving yourself a
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break stimulates self-discovery and
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personal development as you won't have
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the stress of employment or school to
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divert you
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finding out the benefits of taking a gap
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year after high school or college will
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Aid in not only helping you decide but
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also in helping you plan a fulfilling
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and useful break
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a gap Year may be anything you want it
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to be which is its best feature before
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enrolling in college you can pursue a
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hobby pick up a new skill or take
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advantage of the chance to explore the
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globe the following four activities can
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help you develop personally one
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involvement travel and immerse yourself
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in a different culture or environment to
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push yourself Beyond of your comfort
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zone
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89 of participants in gap year programs
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according to the gya spent their time
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away from the United States or Canada
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traveling offers the chance to pick up
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new languages encounter new cultures and
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broaden your understanding of the world
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and your place in it
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two volunteerism
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participate in volunteer activities
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domestically or abroad to make a
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difference in the world
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according to the gya 79 percent of Gap
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year students participate in volunteer
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or service activities such as campaigns
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for Environmental Protection bettering
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public health or promoting gender
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equality to begin gaining practical
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experience you might select a company
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that is relevant to your intended career
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three individualized work spend your Gap
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year Getting to Know Yourself rather
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than traveling the world perhaps you
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were too dependent on others to take
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your interest or projects seriously or
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you couldn't balance it with your
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studies focus on your interests and
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discover who you are right now making a
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commitment to a cause you believe in
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could result in a life experience that
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leads you down a novel unexpected route
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4. education your hard-earned study
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habits might be one of your top worries
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about taking a gap year
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however Research indicates that taking a
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break now will benefit your grades
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afterward teenagers who take a gap year
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before starting College gain 0.1 0.4
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points more on their GPA than is typical
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a gap year might help you recuperate
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from academic burnout before studying
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for placement exams like the Medical
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College aptitude test MCAT or graduate
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record examination GRE
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this is especially true for those
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interested in pursuing graduate courses
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a key decision is whether or not to take
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a gap year
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even though you could find its
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advantages to be persuasive you should
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be aware of any potential drawbacks
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one
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returning to school after a break could
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be difficult even if your Gap year
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experiences made you ready to return it
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could take some effort to transition to
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full-time education
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before entering your first lecture take
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some time to review your study
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techniques and other academic abilities
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this will help you get back on track
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more quickly
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two you can feel left out
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even if you might take a gap Year many
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around you might not
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additionally while you're on vacation
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your friends might surpass you and
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Achieve Milestones like a new job or a
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committed relationship but before you
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start to feel envious keep in mind that
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you've also experienced worthwhile life
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experiences never compare your life to
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someone else's
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three the cost can be high your
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financial situation can suffer if you
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don't have any income during your Gap
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year whether you're a high school
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graduate or in between degrees
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consider the worth of your experiences
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and fresh Viewpoint if money is an issue
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for you long term your career May profit
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from your increased skill set and new
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contacts additionally according to
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college Finance 19 percent of employers
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are ready to pay candidates with a gap
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year abroad a higher wage you'll
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encounter different viewpoints if you're
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thinking about taking a gap year after
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high school or college some favorable
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some not
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here are some common misconceptions
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about Gap years and the reasons they
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might not be true
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one after a gap year you're less likely
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to return to school your drive to learn
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can genuinely be rekindled during a gap
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year
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more than 80 percent of gya participants
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believed that taking a sabbatical
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boosted their motivation to continue
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their education and 78 percent claimed
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that their experiences had influenced
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their choice of subject
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after graduating from high school or
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college if you're feeling exhausted
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taking a gap year can restore Your
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vitality and remind you of why you
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originally loved learning
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two Gap years are essentially a long
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vacation it's likely that you select a
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gap year activity that complements and
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follows your interests
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however your Gap year will likely
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involve some sort of Labor unless you
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prefer to spend a few months lounging in
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the sun in addition to the 79 percent of
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participants who volunteer the gya
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discovered that 29 percent of
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participants work for a living
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37 percent pursue further college
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credits and 61 percent finish their
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coursework
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three Gap years are only affordable for
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wealthy individuals even though taking a
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year off can be costly it is still
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achievable if your budget is tight
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during your time off from school you can
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work do a paid apprenticeship or
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complete an internship
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you can also apply for financial aid
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grants and scholarships tailored
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specifically for Gap years to help you
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get by
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utilizing local programs for Gap years
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to save on travel costs is an additional
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Choice a gap year offers many advantages
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whether you use it to spend time with
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yourself for a few months or give your
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time to a cause here are 12 advantages
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of taking a gap year and how they might
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apply to you one get to know yourself
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you may be forced to step outside of
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your comfort zone and facilitate
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self-discovery by spending a year away
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from the influence of a familiar
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environment put oneself in challenging
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situations and environments you might
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have a different perspective on who you
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are and where you fit in the world if
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you move to a new country or even
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neighborhood two examine and adopt a
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different culture
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the exposure to different cultures
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stimulates creativity and opens your
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eyes to Alternative Lifestyles traveling
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allows you to break down cultural
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barriers and gain first-hand experience
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with different practices traditions and
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values from your own this can open your
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eyes to new ideas and promote human
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connection
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three gain inner confidence becoming
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more independent Fosters adaptability
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which increases your resilience
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cognitive ability and growth mindset
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with each Discovery you'll learn you can
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rely on yourself to overcome challenges
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improving self-confidence
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four
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prepare for life on your own living away
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from the security of school and family
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can help you develop the life skills you
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need to thrive once you're living
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independently
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if you haven't done so already relying
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only on yourself to manage your budget
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schedule and relationships will help you
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mature you'll also experience a way of
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living that better mimics life in the
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real world so when you start living life
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off campus or away from family it'll be
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easier to adjust
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5. learn a new language if you're
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traveling this is your chance to improve
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your language and communication skills
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formal Gap year programs often offer
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intensive courses to give you a leg up
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before you fly somewhere new with plenty
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of opportunities to practice once you
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land and before you speak the language
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you can practice your non-verbal
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communication skills
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six diversify your experience
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starting college or a new career can be
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a bit of a culture shock for the first
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time you might live and work with people
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whose ways of life are different from
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your own
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travel related Gap year experience helps
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you bridge that Gap by giving you the
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opportunity to work with people from
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different cultures and collaborate in a
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cognitively diverse environment
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you'll develop a unique and valuable
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perspective especially if you work or
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volunteer abroad
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seven
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develop new soft skills
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working and living in a new environment
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requires adaptability and initiative two
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in demand skills
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during your experience you may also pick
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up specific leadership problem solving
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and Community Development skills that
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you couldn't learn anywhere else
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these soft skills will take you far as
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you continue your career eight form a
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professional Network
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whether you travel or take extra college
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courses your Gap year will introduce you
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to new people with a host of different
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experiences in a variety of Industries
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you may even find a mentor who can
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advise and nurture your career
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sustain these connections they can form
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a network of support that can guide and
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encourage your professional development
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throughout college and into the Working
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World
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9. make a positive impact find your
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purpose by volunteering during your Gap
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year you can work on projects that make
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a direct positive impact on people's
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lives or the world and this experience
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is especially helpful if it relates to
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your degree or career aspirations
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using your skills in education can
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Empower you and give you ideas about how
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to contribute to your community
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10. discover new interests a gap year
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offers you the freedom to stretch your
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wings and try new activities you'll have
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the time and space to experiment with
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interests and hobbies that can enrich
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your life for years and you might even
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find your passion try signing up for
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classes joining clubs or finding friends
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learning the same skills as you 11.
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create memories many if not most people
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reflect fondly on their travels a gap
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year provides a range of experiences
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that you'll remember for life from small
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moments that Inspire fresh insights to
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Adventures that motivate you you're
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building memories you'll cherish for
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years and lastly 12. make new friends
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whether you're traveling working or
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taking classes you'll have many
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opportunities to meet and work with new
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friends throughout your Gap year
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these shared experiences can lead to
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personal and professional relationships
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that cross borders and last a lifetime
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learning why to take a gap year gives
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you the tools you need to make the right
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decision
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whether a gap year at home or abroad is
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part of your life plan you're investing
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in a unique opportunity to get to know
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yourself before the responsibilities of
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college and work redirect your energy
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spark personal growth by leaping into a
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gap year and find out just how high you
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can fly and Now ladies and gentlemen my
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job here is done I really hope you
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enjoyed this video I tried my best to
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make it as detailed as possible thank
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you for watching
#People & Society