It seems like everything in life so far has a designated next step. Elementary school, junior high, high school, college, then a career. What if something is telling you to take a step off the stereotypical path? You don’t want to be like everyone else, and you shouldn’t have to be. Taking time off to explore the world is an amazing opportunity! The scary part? Telling mom and dad.
Taking a gap year can be super beneficial… but your parents might not see it that way (yet!).
A gap year is a healthy break that will allow your soul to have a rest, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have beneficial life experiences in the process. Earning your parents support for your gap year is possible, and if you’re bold enough to take the road less traveled, you won’t regret it.
Before the chat & an absolute must: Pick a legit program
In order to prepare yourself for the pitch you will be making to convince your parents that a gap year is beneficial to your heart, soul, and mind, you will need have a program ready to present. Telling mom and dad you want to take a gap year can seem daunting, but knowing all of your options will get you closer to gaining their support!
Gap year after high school:
- Volunteer abroad. A gap year spent volunteering not only allows you to explore a new country, or multiple countries, but invest your time into making a positive difference in the world. It’s truly a win-win.
- Work at a camp. Becoming a camp counselor abroad lets you spend valuable time teaching kids and teenagers all while living in the great outdoors of a new country! It’s also a way to impress college recruiters and separate yourself from other incoming students.
Volunteering abroad can be great for figuring out your next step and earning your parents’ support for your gap year.
Gap year after college:
- Intern abroad. If you’ve finished your degree and are keen to take some much needed vacation while also adding to your resume, a post-grad internship may be for you. Not only does international work experience stand out on applications, but it gives you the time you need to figure out “what’s next.”
- Working holiday. Not sure what career path is right for you and want to live abroad without breaking the bank? A working holiday in another country will give you paid experience, travel and leisure, and time to explore career options.
This shortlist of high quality gap year programs could come in handy
1. Work and Travel Australia with Greenheart Travel
Working abroad in Australia is your ticket to gaining work experience while living like a local. Choosing from a 6 to 12 month work placement, this program provides paid work in the stunning city of Sydney. You’ll gather some new mates, money to travel the country in your spare time, and create lifelong memories in the process!
- Where: Sydney, Australia
- Cost: ~ $1,420 program fee
- Get more program info
We could definitely get used to this walk to work.
2. English Teaching Summer Camp Assistant for Children in Spain
Summer camps have always been a way to spend your breaks between the school years, so why not try one abroad in an amazing new country? If you’re searching for some time away after graduating high school, or just want some time to travel after school, teaching at a summer camp can be adventurous and educational! You will help lead classes and plan activities with kids at the camp. In exchange you will also receive monthly compensation and free meals during work. Yes, please!
- Where: Palma de Mallorca, Spain
- Cost: No fee apart from a student visa
- Get more program info
3. Environmental Internship in Bali with Global Nomadic
After telling Mom and Dad you want to take a gap year with this program, they’ll probably decide to come with you!
Become a hands-on nomad with this environmental NGO internship in Bali, Indonesia! Take place in the Green Revolution for up to six months, and then use your skills to build a better world wherever you go next. This program has you diving deep into the world of environmental conservation, all for a low cost!
- Where: Bali, Indonesia
- Cost: $800 for the first 4 weeks; additional $150 for each week after
- Get more program info
4. Semester at Sea: Global Study Abroad on a Floating Campus
Looking for an opportunity to see the world without taking time off from earning your college credits? Participating in a Semester at Sea program lets you earn up to 15 credits and gain an average of 12 passport stamps along the way! You will see so much of the world while taking courses on a classroom that floats. It will be a long voyage, but one with the biggest reward!
- Where: Multiple countries
- Cost: ~ $ 25,000
- Get more program info
Our best advice for telling parents you want to take a gap year
1. Explain the benefits
When you tell your parents you want to take a gap year they may only be hearing that you want to take time off. While some gap year programs offer direct educational benefits like a semester at sea, others offer different kinds of benefits. Give them insight into why time away from your usual studies will help you grow as a person.
If it’s an internship you’re seeking, explain how international work experience can help your future career search! If volunteering abroad is your gap year choice, highlight different life skills you will learn and take away with you when you’re done. Each program offers different benefits, but they are ALL helpful to your future!
It’s not just a vacation—Traveling abroad is great for personal and professional growth.
2. Demonstrate your maturity
One thing a gap year demonstrates the most is how ready you are to begin “adulting.” This may scare your parents a little bit, but it will also show them a new level of independence, and they are the first to know that staying in your bedroom at home will not help you out in the real world. If you show confidence in your decision, earning your parents support for your gap year may be easier than you once thought.
3. Use references and resources
Treat the process of telling mom and dad you want to take a gap year like a school presentation and do you research first! You wouldn’t show up on presentation day with no information to back yourself up, so do the same with your parents.
Make sure you have their big questions answered such as what it will cost, what you will be doing, and where you will going. If you can tell them the answers before they have a chance to ask, they will be impressed by your initiative and preparation!
4. Involve them in the process
Don’t wait until the last minute to tell your parents you’re taking a gap year. They will be so sad! They will also probably be very angry and less likely to give their support.
Involving parents in your gap year decision-making will not only ease their minds, but give them something to be excited about as well! Schedule a time to sit down and discuss your options and ask for their input. They only want what’s best for you, and may surprise you with some great advice!
Keep your family in the loop throughout the whole process.
5. Acknowledge their concerns
It’s natural for your parents to worry, it is their job to take care of you after all, so make sure they know you taking a gap year is nothing for them to be afraid of. It doesn’t mean you’ll be stomping through the forest with a large backpack (well not the whole time at least!).
Show your parents the programs you’ve been looking at and the gap year safety tips so they can feel that they are legit and safe for you to partake in. Let them know you will still be able to communicate with them on your journey abroad as well. It’s a time for you to explore, but you won’t be disappearing either.
6. Be EXCITED
This could be the most important step in the process, and one that is likely to win over your parents. Instead of thinking about how nervous you are to break the news of a gap year to your parents, try thinking about how exciting an opportunity like that is!
Explain to them how time abroad will impact you for the better, and help you become a more cultured, confident, and extremely cool person. Make a gap year sound so amazing that they’ll want to stow away in your suitcase and come with you! Well, maybe not that amazing, but a step below will do!
Mom and dad have your back!
Your parents have always supported you, so we’re sure this will be no exception.
Now that the hardest part of telling mom and dad you want to take a gap year is over, let the fun begin—start planning your time abroad! Remember this is your journey and you should be over the moon excited for this time in your life.
By this time, your parents may have realized they’ll have a quiet house with you away living the #adultlife. This can be a nice break for them too, but don’t forget about them when you’re gone. Take full advantage of your time away, but also snap lots of pictures in the process. Parents do love their pictures! Bon Voyage!
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