Mind the Gap ~ Year

School-leavers around the world have just about sorted out their plans for the autumn.

In North America, college and university acceptances were mailed home to students some time ago. In Europe, many students this month are awaiting the results of the national university entrance exams which will determine their future (drum roll, please).

Other students are opting out. Not dropping out in the old sense ~ but choosing a gap year instead. Call it what you will [“year off", "deferred year," "bridging year," "travel year," "time off," or "time out") ~ the Gap Year, the most popular term, provides breathing room for young people to mature, relax, indulge, reflect, travel or even study in a setting different from the formal classroom.

I wonder if my life would have been any different if I had thought about taking a break when I was 18?

Later this month, I’ll call in an expert to fill in the GAPS about the GAP YEAR idea.