Gap Life

the wonderful gap year. its a craze. I’m telling you. everyone's doing it!

I see my self as a relatively experienced gap-year-taker. My gap year actually turned out to be a gap 18 months. sweet huh? well. yes and no. So I decided to compile a short list of great gap year tips and things you should know when entering this endeavor. For those of you that already started your year, use this stuff. even if you’re studying but living at home... its a whole new world, and a new lifestyle.

1. connect to a local church- and stay there! this is huge. (and this applies to anyone who just started varsity too) leaving high school when everything is easy and spoon-fed by youth and youth leaders is one thing, but being on your own spiritually is a whole new one. Don’t let yourself get distracted and pull away from your church or your christian mates. Stay there! I promise you, being plugged into a church will make your year a lot easier, and will provide that accountability so that you don’t become a first year fader.

2. Get busy- Do something! I’m not talking just about your studies or job that you’ve got for your gap year, but do some new stuff. You’re going to have a lot of different spare time, and rather than sitting on facebook all day every day, do something interesting. Get a hobby. like, start a blog.(ha!) or learn a language. or get involved in something at church or in your community. Don’t just sit around. It’s the worst! You end a day or a week thinking , ‘well that was a waste!’

3a. Keep thinking about the next year. This is a big thing I learnt! Most of us take gap years because we aren’t exactly sure what we want to do or study. And that’s a great reason. However, while you’re in your gap year, you need to be thinking about the future. Try stuff and see where your passions are- look at your options for the year ahead. get little experiential jobs or things to do! be proactive . That way, you won’t get to December still having NO idea what's next...

3b. At the same time, live in the now. Don’t let the future stress you out. keep it on your mind, but just enjoy the time you have to have fun ! Stressing is for later ... 3a and 3b are a balance, but its possible to be both

4. Make the most of it . Do as much cool stuff as you can. be wise with money. save it, but also spend it on having fun. doing crazy stuff. make new friends. go places. It will just make your gap year that much more memorable at the end of it all.

5. Lastly, Be ready to grow. honestly I've seen more growing up in myself and my mates than ever. its fast and furious. And at the end of the year you'll look back and see how much you've changed.

Well, for those still in school and not sure about after-school life, I highly recommend the gap year (or 18 months... or gap life. whatever you want to call it.)
You will grow, be challenged and have exuberant amounts of fun! and at the end of it all, you will be ready to take on the school books again after a healthy 12-month rest.