Take a year: Checking in with some of our Gap Year students

Ava Carrington (OGC 2023)

Being able to write this, with so many fond memories to reflect on, reminds me how privileged I am to have had such an incredible gap year.

For me, the year was about discovering the world and who I could become beyond school life. I believe I have well and truly accomplished this.

This time last year, amid exams, I could not have imagined the challenges, excitement and eyeopening experiences ahead. Sixteen countries later I can look back on so many amazing memories, from climbing Swiss mountains to spontaneously attending a festival in Budapest and even witnessing the northern lights!

This year taught me that the key to living the most exciting and rewarding life is embracing every opportunity, whether or not you think you’re prepared.

Working at Ludgrove, an all-boys, full-time boarding school has been demanding but incredibly rewarding. Being able to work with four other incredible individuals, learning how to work as a team and face the day-today activities of an all-boys boarding

school has taught us all immense resilience. We have laughed and we have shed some tears too, but at the end of the day, we all have learnt some of the most valuable lessons.

Our daily work consists of coaching sports, teaching the younger boys to read and assisting in the classrooms and boarding house. Even the simplest tasks are enjoyable when shared with fellow gappies.

Adjusting to the cold, wet and dark UK winter was extremely daunting. These feelings of being uncomfortable and being thrown completely into the deep end may seem scary, however, this year has taught me that those feelings are 100% necessary to grow.

Taking this gap year, I have learnt that you get out what you put in. Being comfortable with being uncomfortable and taking that risk is so crucial to developing as an individual. Although being stuck in Germany because of delayed trains may not have been the most enjoyable experience, having the realisation that we have been lucky enough to have been travelling and working across the world for the past 12 months was enough to put a smile on our faces.

Coming to the end of my experience, the sadness we are all starting to feel – knowing that we have to leave the family and life we have created here – is enough to know that I have made the most of this year.

I feel so much more prepared for life after school, and am excited to begin studying Physiotherapy. I know how much this year has shaped me.

I would recommend taking a gap year to anyone. I have made lifelong friendships, and explored corners of the world I never dreamed of seeing and experienced moments that will stay with me forever.

Emma Moorfoot (OGC 2023)

For the past year, I have been working during my gap year at St Mary’s School in Cambridge in the UK. Like The Geelong College, St Mary’s prides itself on their school values, which are learnt from as early as prep right through to the senior years. Being allowed to help teach these important values that they use every day has been a privilege to be a part of.

Taking this Gap year has given me so many experiences and taught me so much about myself, invaluable things that I can take into my future.

A gap year was something I always dreamed of after hearing about it a few years ago. I have always loved the thought of having the opportunity to see other parts of the world while gaining skills and experiences that I wouldn’t get anywhere else.

I have seen parts of the UK that I would not have seen if I didn’t have the opportunity that I did with St Mary’s. I saw the gorgeous Lake District in a week-long hiking expedition with the Gold Duke of Ed groups. It was also

a great test of my leadership skills, as I was responsible for a group of students.

I have had the privilege of seeing the Dorset Coast as well with the History and Geography classes, along with many more experiences linked to the School.

During the weekends, there is either a trip or activity going on for the boarding girls which I am invited to. These trips have been great, as I’ve able to see different places, as well as getting to know the incredible boarding girls better.

During holidays and half terms, I made the most of my time in the UK, and travelled as much as I could to several countries. I’ve collected a magnet from each destination as a keepsake of my adventures.

Some of the beautiful and spectacular places I was lucky enough to explore were Ireland, Scotland, Mallorca, Monaco, Nice, and all-around Italy with a day trip to Switzerland thrown in there for fun.

Once I get home, I will be spending as much time as I can with my family and friends, as well as soaking up the sun and warm weather.

I have so much planned for next year, including starting my university studies in nursing on the Sunshine Coast. I feel very excited about it, and will be approaching it with a renewed energy.

Taking a year off to explore other parts of the world has been the most amazing and eye-opening experience that I will take with me for the rest of my life’s journey.

Leo Bent (OGC 2023)

With only six weeks left of my gap year in the UK, I can confidently say it has been the best year of my life. Reflecting on my experiences and how much I’ve grown as a person, this has been the perfect first step into life beyond school.

When our careers educator, Adrian Blades, suggested a gap year in the UK—working and living at a school with opportunities to travel—I knew instantly it was what I wanted to do. Securing a gap year job was challenging, involving extensive research, applications, and interview preparation, but the excitement of receiving my job offer made it all worthwhile.

Living in a new country has come with its challenges, however, it has been incredibly rewarding – living in a different culture has been exciting. I never thought I’d catch myself calling soccer ‘football’ or that my favourite beer would be a pint of Guinness. However fast-forward to July when my parents came over to visit, I showed off my somewhat dubious ability to split the ‘G’ on a pint of Guinness and confused them repeatedly referring to soccer as football!

During school holidays, I’ve had nearly four months to travel across Europe, visiting countries I’d only dreamed

of. So many unforgettable memories and life experiences were made, from basking on the idyllic beaches of a picturesque Greek island to dancing with friends at the vibrant Sziget Festival in Hungary.

It wasn’t all highs, there were also some lows – such as having to walk through Malta with my ridiculously heavy bag, in the heat of summer, after not sleeping for 48 hours. However, they have taught me resilience and independence.

Travelling has been a big part of my year, but an even bigger part has been the experiences I have had working at Handcross Park, in Sussex. It has been fascinating observing the contrasts between school life in Australia and for kids in the UK. For example – I was shocked when I found out their school day goes from 8am-5pm!

I have been incredibly lucky to work at a school that provides me with three meals a day, seven days a week during school terms. The accommodation is great, and the people working here – including my fellow Gappies and teachers – are some of the best people I’ve ever met.

The work can involve long challenging days, but is extremely rewarding if

you put in the effort to have fun with the kids and staff. Throwing yourself into any opportunity and work that comes your way has great rewards. Right now, I am packing for a two-day history trip to the Somme in France!

A typical day at Handcross Park might start with helping out with PE, assisting with sports training or supporting a science class. There are also many after-school clubs to attend. I often help with the cooking and cricket clubs, sometimes having more fun than the kids!

Evenings and weekends revolve around boarding life.

I was told when I first started that you become like an older brother to many of the kids in the boarding house. After ten months of working here, I’ve found this to be true. When spending so much time in the boarding house, you have a lot of fun and build strong bonds. Weekend excursions to places like theme parks, or playing football on the Astro-turf with the kids, have created some of my best memories. My gap year experience has exceeded all expectations. To any student considering a gap year abroad: take the leap – you won’t regret it!