Santa Fe A/S : How a gap year makes you a better person

Posted: 17/07/2017 Author: Santa Fe Relocation Services

It seems that more and younger individuals are opting in favour of going on a gap year as opposed to having to make a definitive career choice after finishing school or University. With the economy being as volatile as it is and with the job market being incredibly competitive, it is little wonder that people are taking more time when it comes to mapping out their future. The great thing about gap years is that they can truly allow you to explore the world at your own pace and encourage you to become the best version of yourself that you can be. If you or anyone you know have every considered a gap year, then be sure to check out the following reasons as to how the experience can allow you to become a better person in so many ways…

Confidence in career choices

While at school you may have taught certain subjects that were necessary in allowing you to pass and proceed to the next stages of your education, they were not necessary that helpful in allowing you to make informed decisions about your career. Something that school doesn't teach you is more about your passions and the skills that you were naturally gifted with. Through going on a gap year and being able to indulge in your passions and exploring your options you will more often than not be able to become more open minded with the way you want to live your life and choose the ideal career for you- with confidence.

Self-sufficiency and independence

For most of us our young lives tend to involve being surrounded by family and with friends being within easy reach. Should you need money or advice etc. you probably knew that there is someone there to help you out and you would have easy access to the resources you need. A gap year is one way to cut ties and become more self-sufficient and independent in your thoughts and actions. It is often during the toughest and most strenuous of circumstances that you find out what you're made of and just how capable you are of solving problems on your own. How do you get through tough situations? Perhaps going on a gap year will be able to answer this all important question!

Education in its most authentic form

In our increasingly digital, material and somewhat self-centred world it can be easy to get wrapped in not learning as much as we should about the world around us. From the environment to geography and foreign languages, these are all things that going on a gap year will really be able to shed light on. A gap year will allow you to real life subjects into perspective and allow you to learn more about the culture, food, language and overall lifestyle of the country (or countries you visit).

Getting out of your comfort zone

The majority of people do not get to travel the world or even get to live abroad for a wide array of reasons. Regardless of whether you worked to raise money for your gap year or have had some help to finance the experience, you should be grateful for the opportunity that allowed you to do so. Travel and learning about the world is a true gift which should be embraced wholeheartedly.

Open mindedness

Learning about new cultures will truly allow you to gain a new perspective on the world and this will help you to become that much more aware and connected with both the people and the world around you. While this may be considered to be a 'soft skill' by employers it will have an immeasurable impact on the way that you see the world and perceive those who you meet throughout your life.

Adaptability

Whether you are travelling the world or travelling to work, sometimes bad things happen and you have to deal with it in the best way that you know. Travelling and going on a gap year tends to really push you outside of your comfort zone and can present you with some unprecedented problems. However while these may seem terrible initially, once you have overcome them you will most certainly become that much better at decision making, problem solving and critical thinking.

If you or someone you know if looking to head off on their gap year - regardless of where in the world that may be to - it will be worthwhile to find out as much as you can about the process and have your questions answered by experts. Here at Santa Fe we work closely with those embarking on a gap year, so be sure to get in touch if you need assistance with any aspect of the process.