“For surely I know the plans I have for you … plans for your welfare and not for woe, to give you a future with hope” (Jeremiah 29:11).

Gap years—typically defined as taking a year off between high school and college—are fairly common for European students but less so within the United States.

However, the COVID pandemic changed the script of choosing either a job or college straight out of high school, with more students looking for another option, such as a gap year. According to the Gap Year Association, the number of students who opted for a gap year rose to about 130,000 in the 2020-2021 academic year.

So, what is a gap year? And how do you decide that it’s right for you?

Defining a Gap Year

The average American’s view of a gap year is probably summarized either with thoughts of 18-year-olds gallivanting across Europe looking to find themselves until they run out of money or living at home watching TV or playing video games all day with no real plan. Another stereotype is that it is only for students headed for Ivy League universities with the time and capital.

But that is not the purpose of a gap year (all mothers take a breath of relief here).

A gap year is an intentional year of learning outside of the classroom to grow in both personal and professional awareness. This may include traveling, working, or volunteering, depending on the individual. The purpose is for students to step out of their comfort zone and start to figure out what they want to do for work or study at college.

An Unexpected Gap Year

I took an unexpected gap year (to be exact, it was a year and a half) between undergraduate and graduate school.

After graduating in December, I went off to Florida to participate in the Disney College Program for about six months. I worked in the quick food service at the Magic Kingdom on Mainstreet U.S.A, Tomorrowland, and Fantasy Land. It was challenging and tiring—Disney works its students hard—but the best perk was getting to go into the parks on days off. Sometimes, I would go just to see the fireworks, ride certain rides, or read in the grassy area in front of Cinderella’s castle.

Once my six months were over, I moved back home to job search and plan my next move. There came a point where I realized that I needed and wanted to go to graduate school, and I applied while doing seasonal work both in retail and food service. Eventually, I landed a bank teller job. One month into the job, I was accepted into graduate school.

Though unexpected and unintentional, that gap year was a blessing. At Disney World, I met new people, gained an appreciation for people who work in food service, and experienced my first time truly away from home—which prepared me for living six hours away from my family.

My job as a bank teller is still one of the most impactful jobs I have held in my short professional career. It taught me that we do not know a person’s finances based on their appearance, that there are ordinary people struggling day to day, and (most importantly) that kindness matters.

When I began graduate school, I was excited and focused, because I knew that it was where I wanted to be. I experienced the joy of learning in a new way and liked everything about graduate school. I also got to live at home for about a year and have more time with my youngest sister and parents. At the time, I hated it, but now I am grateful for it.

Deciding if a Gap Year Is Right for You

The truth is only you know if a gap year is the right decision for you.

There is something to be said for taking a year off to travel, work, or volunteer if you are unsure what to do or study—or you are just not ready. As a higher educational professional, I feel sad when I see students struggling and trying to stay the course when it may have been better for them to take a break or done something completely different. It’s a potentially expensive way to try to figure things out.

Having an end goal, or at least a loose plan of the next step after the gap year, is important, too. A gap year should have a purpose, whether it’s professional or educational, in terms of a four-year degree, certification, or trade school.

As Catholics, we have many resources to help us discern where God is leading us both in our “big V” and “little v” vocations.

Prayer

Our relationship with God is vital—communicating with Him and listening to Him communicate with us. There are so many different ways to pray, from the Rosary to Adoration, to hear where He is calling us.

Sacraments

Frequenting the sacraments of Confession and the Eucharist is always good, but especially when we are discerning the next step in life.

Research

If you took a gap year, what would it look like? What is your purpose or intention?

The Gap Year Association shares a variety of experiences. Reaching out to your parish and/or diocese to identify volunteer or mission experiences is also a good starting point.

Some ministries, like NET, are open to high school graduates, while others, like the Culture Project and FOCUS, are open to college graduates.

Surrender

The Christian life is one of surrendering over and over again. The Lord knows what is good for us. He calls us to trust that He knows His plans for us, even when we cannot see His reasons or know His ends.

A gap year can be beneficial and is worth the consideration. The people I know who took a gap year, myself included, are grateful for the time and the lessons learned that year (or more).

When I went to graduate school, most of my classmates had done the undergrad-to-graduate path, and I admit feeling stressed and thinking I was behind. But I wasn’t; I was where God called me to be. Without that 1.5 gap year, I would probably have gone to a different university, struggled with being far from my family, and not have moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to the community of friends I have today. More importantly, this time was the start of the Lord working through me as I accepted the invitation to surrender to and trust Him.

The Lord’s ways are not my ways—and thank goodness. If the Lord is calling you to a gap year, take it, and see where He leads you. As Pope St. John Paul II said, “Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure.” What adventure are you being called to?

Alexandra (Alex) Harrel resides in Irving, Texas. She is a new student affairs professional within the world of higher education. In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to podcasts, and spending time outdoors. Her favorite prayer is Hail, Holy Queen. You can follow her on Instagram at @2012alexandra.