Why did you choose to take a gap year?
I wanted an opportunity to step outside of my usual environment and experience a different way of life. I felt that taking some time to live in another country would help me mature and gain new perspectives and mature.
What did you do during your gap year?
During my gap year, I worked as a civil engineering appraisal messenger.
My primary responsibility was delivering important business documents and paperwork to the bank, where I gained experience:
- demonstrating professional responsibility
- handling financial documents with care.
I would receive the paperwork from my father at home and then travel by cable car to the bank to submit the documents. This required:
- attention to detail
- reliability
- organisation
- time management.
One of my main goals was to obtain my driver's license, so I completed a course to receive a license in my home country.
I also spent time traveling within my country to broaden my perspective, visiting different regions and learning more about their:
- communities
- culture
- geography.
What were the biggest challenges you faced during your gap year?
One of the biggest challenges I faced was dealing with periods of political instability. At times, roadblocks and transportation disruptions made it difficult to move around the city and maintain normal schedules. These situations required flexibility and patience, as plans often had to change on short notice.
This experience taught me the importance of being adaptable in uncertain situations and helped me develop problem-solving skills that have been valuable in other areas of my life.
What skills did you develop during your gap year?
I had several experiences that have continued to benefit me in my education and personal life:
- flexibility and adaptability - during periods of political instability I learned how to remain calm in uncertain situations
- independence - I relied on my sense of direction and ability to navigate the city alone while traveling to different locations
- time management - my responsibilities required me to follow a schedule and complete tasks on time.
The experience exposed me to different cultures, routines, and ways of thinking, which broadened my understanding of the world. Looking back, the gap year helped me begin my studies with greater:
- appreciation for educational opportunities
- focus
- independence.
How has your gap year influenced your career plans or study choices?
The time away from formal studies gave me an opportunity to reflect on my interests and think carefully about the type of work I wanted to pursue in the future.
Through my experiences and observations during that year, I realised that I was most passionate about meteorology and environmental science. I became increasingly interested in understanding how the following effect communities:
- climate
- the natural environment
- weather.
As a result, I decided to pursue studies in this field, which ultimately provided a clear direction for my education and future career aspirations.
Are there any common misconceptions about gap years you'd like to challenge?
One common misconception about gap years is that they are a waste of time or that they put people behind in their education or careers - I believe the opposite is true. A well-spent gap year can provide:
- personal growth
- perspectives that are difficult to experience in a classroom
- valuable life experiences.
Living in a different environment and experiencing a different lifestyle helped me better understand:
- myself
- my interests
- my future goals.
The lessons learned during a gap year can be just as valuable as those learned through formal education.
What advice would you give to someone considering a gap year?
My advice to someone considering a gap year would be to embrace the opportunity if it aligns with their goals and circumstances.
If you are on the fence, remember that meaningful experiences can provide valuable lessons that cannot always be learned in a classroom. My gap year allowed me to:
- better understand my future goals
- gain new perspectives
- grow personally.
I believe people often regret opportunities they did not take more than the ones they did. A gap year can be a chance to explore, learn, and experience life in a different way before continuing with education or a career. If approached with purpose and an open mind, a gap year can be a highly rewarding experience.
Find out more
- Discover gap year ideas.
- Explore whether a gap year is right for you
- Check out our advice on planning your gap year.