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"It's simply a matter of doing what you do best and not worrying about what the other fellow is going to do." -- John R. Amos
Obstacles to your gap PDF Print E-mail
If you mention taking a ‘gap year’ to people you will probably receive variations on one of two reactions:

“I can’t afford to take the time off from my studies”, or, “I’d love to, but I don’t have enough money”.

The first reaction is a form of intellectual snobbery, and the second reveals an attitude of being a victim of circumstances. I mean, doesn’t taking a gap year mean you got a bad matric, or that you have a lot of money?

These misconceptions regarding taking a year off after either high school or further studies are the result of incorrect assumptions about the real nature of a ‘gap year’.

‘Not having time’ is an excuse used by all of us when, deep down, we don’t really want to do something enough to get organized. If you can’t see the benefits of taking time out of your life to do things you will probably never have the opportunity to do again. You won’t be prepared to pay the costs involved of planning, saving and risking your money and ego.

Taking time out between school and further studies can be of huge benefit if it is planned around who you are, and what you really want to do and experience. Nowadays employers are looking beyond the qualifications of job applicants to the ‘softer’ skills and achievements made outside of school.

And not having enough money is a problem faced by most people. Solutions are possible through saving and purposeful work. Accept that it takes time to save meaningful amounts of money, especially if you want to go from South Africa to other countries with strong currencies. So start young – many ‘gappers’ start planning and saving at 14 years of age.

A gap year does not necessarily have to be a full year either – even a month or two, participating in a structured or planned activity, different from your normal activities, would constitute a ‘gap’. And it is not a requirement to travel away from home, friends and family to have an enjoyable, successful gap – for example volunteering to work with an organization close to your home with which you identify or who can provide you with experience relevant to your future career is an option freely available in South Africa. There are literally hundreds of organizations which require help from people keen to contribute their time and labour.

Fundamentally a gap year is about deliberately creating a period of time in which you participate in activities which are either different from anything you have ever experienced, or which will contribute towards your understanding of your future self.

So here are some simple tips on overcoming the obstacles of time and money:

  1. Investigate the careers you are interested in by working (or even just spending time) with people already doing what you are thinking of doing. A really useful website is www.firststep.co.za
  2. Get real with yourself. What are your real interests and capabilities? What would your perfect life be like 10 years from now? What will your ideal day feel like?  Who would be accompanying you? What will you be aspiring towards?
  3. Be nice to yourself – most of us are hardest on ourselves, so cut yourself some slack and allow yourself to dream and play ‘What if…?’ without the obstructing emotions of doubt and fear.
  4. Talk to adults about their perspectives on one year out of your life doing something you want to do – ask questions like, “Would you have liked to take a year off?”, “Is a year a long time out of one’s life?”, and “What would you do if you were me?”
  5. Identify, research and then plan the activities you want to do and when. Use the internet – look at sites such as  www.africangapyear.co.za , www.gap-year.com , www.gapyear.com and www.goabroad.com . Associate costs with each activity, and allow time enough to save up enough to make the plan a reality. Identify ways, with associated deadlines, of raising the funds to save the money you need.
  6. Find someone to share your plan, ideally someone you like and who wants to take a gap with you. Taking a successful gap year requires teamwork and support, so start being nice to people!
  7. Share your goals with friends and relatives – if they know about your plans they can help. Most adults will want to help you where they can, even if it’s just advice (remember we all dislike advice, but it’s free, and often quite useful)!
  8. Explore the ways of earning money once you are on your gap – jobs are always available for people who can communicate clearly and who are pleasant to be around. How about being an au pair or picking fruit? You could teach English to non-English speakers or work on a cruise ship. If you are good at a sport become a coach and umpire/referee.
  9. Do the courses and get the experience now that will allow you to work whilst on your gap year, whether it’s learning to play a musical instrument, doing a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course, learning to cook, or how to do the books. Short courses are available after school/varsity hours, so invest in yourself. Not only will you add to your skills, but your self image and confidence will receive a boost!
  10. Plan your time so that you put in the hours necessary to make your gap year the biggest, happiest time of your life. Thousands do it every year – why not you? Believe in yourself, and then get to work!

If you have done your research and are still stuck, or just need some specific advice, feel free to contact Neville at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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