Not All Gap Year Experiences are the same
A “Gap Year” is defined by the Gap Year Association as “a semester or year of experiential learning, typically taken after high school and prior to career or post-secondary education, in order to deepen one’s practical, professional and personal awareness.”
They go on to say that experiential education and challenging comfort zones are two elements that are characteristic of common gap year plans. That being stated, no two are exactly alike. And as a parent, there are sure to be many questions. Taking a Gap Year is not something parents typically prepare their adult children to do. And while Gap Years are gaining in popularity in the United States, it is by no means the typical path after high school or even during college making it a narrower and harder choice to make. One of the most centralized resources available to parents and students is the Gap Year Association.
a Wall Street Journal publication by Karl Haigler indicated that the two most common reasons for taking a gap year were:
Burnout from competitive pressures of high school
& a Desire to know more about self.
And often, when people think about gap year programs, they often think of it as time “off” of the normal or expected path. As a parent, ask yourself if:
your new, adult child might benefit from a burnout break?
your new, adult child might benefit from embracing their identity in Christ more deeply?
your new, adult child might benefit from living in community with other believers while walking out their faith together IN the world?
your new, adult child would benefit from other experts teaching life skills necessary to be an independent adult?
your new, adult child would benefit from a consistent, non-judgmental Christian mentor?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, this is not time “OFF”, it is time spent living in the present…developing personal and life skills that will position each attendee to be a thriving and whole adult living in the world, not of the world.
“She came out of this program self-confident, has her own faith, and she’s developed a community that is going to be able to lean on for the rest of her life.
I know this is going to have a ripple effect. I don’t think that she understands the impact yet that is gonna have for her for the rest of her life.”
Would you like access to our “Are you ready to launch?” document and learn about some of the skills that each new adult will practice while at The Gap? Complete the form and we will send you a link to download the document.
I have questions and would like to schedule a call with Tammy, the Executive Director.