A YEAR ON; NOT A YEAR OFF
BECOME A
gapper
Whether you want to take a breather after 12 years of schooling, get to know yourself better, explore the world, gain some work experience, or simply pursue your passion – a year after school can give you the gap you need to do this and more! Margarethe Booysen investigates.
S
ome people believe a gap year gives you time to explore your options before exchanging the four walls of a classroom for the four walls of a lecture hall or office. The idea of spending time to get to know who you are in the world without the demands of formal schooling or a full-time job is appealing for many school-leavers. For others, it is a necessity to raise funds to further their education. As with any decision that impacts your future, you should do your research, be realistic about your own circumstances, and choose what is best for you.
64
What are the benefits of a gap year? One of the reasons many school-leavers decide to take a break after matric is because they are not ready to commit to a dedicated qualification or a specific career. Rather than risk not completing their studies and wasting money, many school-leavers opt for a gap year. For them, a gap year is an opportunity to get to know themselves better and to experience more of the world in order to make an informed decision in terms of their studies and their future career choice. It is important to develop
TH E U LT I M AT E C A R E ER GU ID E SPRING 2 0 2 1
useful career-readiness tools during your gap year. According to Pieter Gouws, who coordinates the Pneumatix gap-year programme (www.gapyearcapetown.co.za/ index.php), the importance of exposure to career opportunities during a gap year should not be underestimated. “That is why our programme is specifically designed to give the gappers exposure to at least 35 careers and more than 100 industry professionals during their year with us.” However, a gap year is also an opportunity for self-growth and personal development. “Every year, we see how our gappers become more mature and self-reliant, while their worldview expands,” explains Gouws. “Their growth is truly holistic.” Finding yourself in an unfamiliar environment away from the structures and rules of school and parental presence, you are forced to make your own decisions and form your own values and principles based on personal experience. You will have more independence, and with that comes a
