Over the years, my appreciation for the many benefits of Gap time has continued to grow. Initially, I only knew about the experience of my son. My work to help him plan his Gap Year, and the immediate benefits, prompted me to enter this field. I am a passionate leader of the Gap Year movement, and speak and write often – in my own words – about the transformative powers of Gap time. Perhaps I could be seen as biased! Maybe it would be better to hear from the students themselves. Here are some of the perspectives of my students, taken directly from their post-Gap Year surveys:
Clio: “I’ve grown as an independent adult and will be able to tackle college with more knowledge about self-sufficiency. I loved traveling abroad, living semi-independently and developing my interest in culture and people. There were several times where social issues arose where I could have handled the situation more directly. I have grown so much from all these experiences.”
Anthony: “My time during my gap year was life changing. I learned so much about the world and how to live independently. It really made me feel thankful for what I have and the journey I’ve chosen…I learned the most about having to maintain business, social life, health, and all other aspects of life. It really helped me learn balance and that you have to roll with the punches, stay optimistic, and turn losses into lessons.”
Sabrina: “I will be different starting college – I have become much more independent and confident in myself. At my studio I have learned so much and been able to be creative and have a hand in helping out with basically everything… I also had a lot of time to myself which gave me time to reassess what my goals were. I changed my college decision to a school that I think is a much better fit for me. It has been a wonderful experience and I am so sad it has to come to an end!”
Click here for the full blog post with more student voices. Our Testimonials page has more including parent perspectives.
If you would like Gap Year Solutions to deliver an informational webinar and Q&A at your school, please contact us today. But don’t wait – between our free library webinars, participation in high school Junior Planning Nights and other virtual school presentations, we are filling up our calendar quickly!
Upcoming webinars
Katherine will be presenting a free, live informational webinar on November 18, hosted by Newton Free Library, Newton, MA. 7:00PM ET. Registration link.
Our website events page lists all upcoming webinars and presentations, which will be primarily focused in the January – March timeframe for the remainder of this school year.
Gap Year Solutions helps students increase college success through transformational gap experiences. Founder Katherine Stievater works with students across the U.S. to structure work, service, travel and other activities into a customized plan. Her approach focuses on student ownership, and building life skills such as problem solving, independent living, and resilience. Katherine’s process with her students creates trust and powerful mentoring relationships. She encourages students to embrace this unique opportunity to step off the traditional path, be authentic, and continue to discover themselves!
