More than ever, young people have been looking into taking a gap year in order to outsmart the Coronavirus and hopefully experience their university years without the possible disruption of lockdowns, distancing, and closures. Inside Higher Ed stated that SimpsonScarborough is releasing a survey of incoming freshmen who aspired to attend a four-year residential college that finds that 40 percent of them say they are likely or highly likely to not attend any four-year college this fall. Further, 28 percent of returning students who have the option to return to their campus say they are not going back or haven’t decided yet.’ As a result of these rising numbers, it is important that the increased amount of students taking a gap year are able to maximize their time, stay productive, and experience as much as possible despite the precedenting circumstances.
- Set a Schedule and Create Routine
It is important to know the length of time out you are taking out of education, so you can make big plans and start a rough agenda. Doing this will also help you work out what kind of budget you’ll need, and when you’ll be able to make money too. Creating a daily routine will help you stay constructive and will provide a structure.
- Build Up Your Resume
You can achieve this by applying for remote internships in a field or industry that you are looking to go into one day. It also can help you decide how much you would enjoy a certain career. A lot of the time, internships can be flexible for you, so if you are looking for something short-term, they can be very beneficial. It is also a good idea to look at online courses, as a lot of the time you can gain quick and easy qualifications that may be useful down the line.
- Find Friends In Similar Situations
With more and more people finding them in the position in taking a gap year, reach out to old friends to see if there is anyone around in your situation. Having someone to make plans with during this year can help combat any worries of loneliness, especially if many friends have moved away for university.
- Explore Your City
International travel may not be very possible at the moment, so instead why don’t you use this opportunity to explore your area, and be a tourist in your own city. Seeing new sights and exploring different cultures may be one reason why you love to travel abroad, however, all of this is still possible if you use the initiative to travel COVID-friendly closer to home, and visit some places you may have never seen before.
- Take Up New Hobbies
Now is the perfect opportunity to spend time taking up a hobby and learning ne
w skills, as not only will it provide you with enjoyment, but it may be something you have great ability in. It is also an easy way of meeting new people with similar interests.
