It’s pretty intimidating having to decide what you want to do for your whole life and go into heaps of student debt straight out of high school. I know this, being stacked on top of my homework, extracurriculars and a part-time job, was way too much, to say the least. I combatted this by taking a gap year between high school and university. Now as much as I wanted to, I wasn’t in the position to travel the world. I just worked; a lot. I went into the year hoping to figure out what I truly wanted to do as a career, figure which university/college was best for me, and earn some money, but there were also many important lessons I learnt that I didn’t anticipate. So, without further ado, here are some lessons I learnt from taking a gap year that you can learn from as well.
- Self Discipline
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When I was in high school, there always seemed like there was someone telling me what I could and couldn’t do. Do your homework, go to class, eat your dinner, they said, but after I graduated, I was on my own. Didn’t want to work? Give away your shift. Want to eat ice cream for the fifth time that week? Go ahead. I’ll admit, at the beginning of the year I went a little crazy, doing and buying whatever I wanted, but now I know myself more. I learnt self-discipline and independence, and I feel that it really benefits me now, especially when I’m dragging myself out of bed for that 8 A.M. lecture.
- To Enjoy The Little Things
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When starting my year off, I greatly underestimated how much free time I would have. I was working two jobs, so 12- and 14-hour days were my week, and sleeping was pretty much my weekend. It made me appreciate the little time I had to myself, as the walk to work in the morning or the few times I was able to hang out with my friends. I feel like now I am able to step back and appreciate the little time I have with myself.
- To Prioritize Myself
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After many sleepless nights and long talks with my parents, we came to the conclusion that taking a gap year was the best decision for me; I could enjoy my senior year of high school without the worry of university, then earn some money for tuition and take a break from school for a while. Of course, this was a well thought out decision, but not everyone knew that much. My friends assumed this was my way of saying I wasn’t going to go into post-secondary education (which there is nothing wrong with that!) and my distant family thought I was throwing away potential scholarships. No matter what I told them, I was met with silence and awkward glances, and surprise when I told them I was accepted to Waterloo.
This experience really taught me that I can’t try and please everyone despite their good intentions, and I have to live for myself. No regrets!
These lessons taught me how to be a functioning adult and are helping me through my first year of university, so hopefully they can help you too!