Gap Year Report by Merryn Everitt

Ipswich High School Old Girl

I spent my Gap Year studying in Spain and working and travelling in Canada with odd jobs in England in between. It was one of the best things I have ever done because it gave me tremendous confidence, enabled me to improve my French and Spanish before studying them at university and gave me a lifetime of memories. Therefore, if you are considering a Gap Year, I would say go for it!

The first thing I learnt was that on a Gap Year you have to be flexible. I was unable to find a job in Spain as I had planned and so resorted to taking a language and culture course in Salamanca for two months. This turned out to be one of the best parts of my gap year. Previously I had thought I did not want to see another text book until I started university, but I soon found out studying something I loved without the pressure to pass exams was wonderful, and I made friends from all over the world and travelled to explore different parts of Spain with them at the weekends.

The other best part of my Gap Year was travelling around Canada, half of which I did alone. This taught me that as long as you plan things well, booking accommodation and travel well in advance, and are sensible about any risks that may arise from travelling alone, it is perfectly possible to do so if you choose to travel in a relatively safe country. The beauty of travelling alone is you can go exactly where you want, when you want. I chose to explore the East Coast of Canada, visiting Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, several places in Québec and Ottawa and Toronto.

I will never forget standing on a deserted beach one morning in the Gaspésie region of Québec, drinking in the wonderful view of the distant mountains and the sea sparkling in the Summer sun.

The thing to do is keep regular contact with home, devise little things you can do to give you pleasure, such as going out to a café for a hot chocolate, and try and think of some positives you are gaining from the situation. Although I did not enjoy my job, doing it enabled me to get truly immersed in local life, practise French daily in a work environment, learn some business and retail skills and learn how to budget.

Whilst in Canada I also learnt two important Gap Year rules, to always keep a little money in a secure place in your lodgings in case your purse is stolen, and to always take out insurance, as some people participating on the same work exchange programme as me did not and went home up to £50,000 in debt for health care.

One of the best overall outcomes of my Gap Year was the way it makes me feel now - less shy and easily stressed and more confident and at peace with myself. I no longer dread leaving home and am proud of the independence I got through my year out. I have gained a new perspective on life, realising there are lots of important things in life and achieving at school and university is not everything. The sense of peace I am now able to draw on as a result of having had time to take stock of my life, life in general (and the eternal knotty problem of is there a God and if so what is he like?) has made a big difference to my life. There are some things that just come with having time to think and getting experience of “the real world” and a Gap Year gives you this time and experience.

So, if you are considering a Gap Year, take one! Research thoroughly every possible opportunity available to you, do not be afraid to try new things (I had no idea during my Gap Year I would be working as a bar maid, shop assistant, baby sitter and doing agricultural work!) and never ever let fear or worries (within reason!) hold you back.

Good Luck!