“The world is a book,
and those who do not travel
read only one page.“
– Saint Augustine
A gap year is not just a gap in your academic biography. It is a precious space between two major periods of your life when you can get to know yourself better, take a look at the accumulated experience, and decide what you want to do with your life. It is a fork in the road where you can rest peacefully, take a look at where you have come from, and choose the one road you are going to take.
While many parents worry that a gap year might have a detrimental effect on their children’s study skills and motivation to go to college, Jay Gosselin, the founder of MentorU and the Discover Year Program, argues that taking a gap year is highly beneficial for those young people who want to achieve academic success and live a meaningful life.
This study break allows students to explore their strengths and weaknesses as well as discover their genuine interests. In addition, traveling enhances problem-solving skills, develops critical thinking, and broadens cultural horizons.
At college, professors will teach you to write essays. You might even find a professional whom you can ask to write an essay for me to help you deal with an avalanche of assignments. But you have to learn to make decisions and take ownership of your life on your own. And the gap year offers you a wonderful chance to do just that.
This is why we have selected three awesome destinations that will allow you to spend your gap year in the most meaningful, productive, and enjoyable way.
1. Costa Rica
Imagine standing on the top of a dormant volcano looking at a breathtaking panorama, sprawling rainforests covering the earth underneath like a furry green blanket. You can hear hundreds of colorful birds chirping around you. The thickets are full of rare animals. No wonder Costa Rica is one of the happiest countries in the world.
Costa Ricans call their relaxed and sanguine way of life “Pura Vida,” which translates as “pure life.” They are indeed very hospitable, friendly, and positive people who wake up at 7 am to the sounds of their national anthem played on the radio and eat a delicious local dish, “Gallo Pinto,” for breakfast. If you want to know what other ingredients are included in the Costa Rican recipe of happiness, you need to go to this amazing country and see for yourself.
Costa Rica is one of the more expensive South American countries, yet, traveling there is quite affordable, especially if you are combining it with volunteering in Community and Environmental projects.
2. Cambodia
East Asia is one of the most frequently recommended gap year destinations. However, Thailand usually steals the limelight, while Cambodia is quietly waiting for those travelers who are ready to step off the beaten track. Yet, it is not at all a godforsaken corner of the region. On the contrary, Cambodia can boast the largest religious complex in the world. Angkor Wat is the very heart of Cambodia. It encapsulates its living history, unique culture, and mysterious vibes. It is a perfect place to explore the grandeur of the human civilization, which managed to build these stunning temples back in the early 12th century.
Another precious gift that Cambodia has to offer is a chance to look at a completely different way of life and enjoy the incredible cultural diversity of our planet. In Cambodia, you can try fried ants, crickets, and spiders, travel around in a picturesque tuk-tuk, and get to know Cambodians a little closer by taking part in a homestay.
You will have as much time to fall in love with this country as you need. The expenses will not hold you back. The transportation, food, and housing options are all extremely cheap in Cambodia.
3. Tanzania
If you are a first-time visitor, Tanzania is a perfect place to start your acquaintance with Africa. Tanzania is famous for its spectacular scenery, which varies from grasslands to mountain peaks, as well as for its unique and incredibly diverse wildlife. Many young people choose to participate in childcare or medical volunteering programs in this country and spend their gap year in a most meaningful and memorable way.
The Serengeti National Park is one of those rare sites that instantly win a place in your heart and stay with you forever. But if you are a science geek, do not miss out on a visit to the Tarangire National Park, a true baobab paradise, and the Gombe Stream National Park, a legendary location, which witnessed Dr. Jane Goodall carry out her studies.
Finally, Tanzania is also a country that inspired Ernest Hemingway so much that he wrote his famous short story “The Snows of Kilimanjaro.” Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest freestanding mountain in the world, is a fascinating sight that can become a source of creative energy for you too. All you have to do is describe your stay in Tanzania in your travel diary, sitting over a cup of fragrant local coffee.
Final Thought
While you can always get help with your homework online or take online courses while studying from home, traveling is a precious experience that can only be obtained by leaving your comfort zone and going to new places. This experience is all the more valuable when the culture you are immersing yourself in is different from your own.
“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind,” said Seneca. And there are few things in this world you will need as much in your college years as this fresh intellectual vigor that your gap year can give you.
