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The gap year has also been referred to as a career break, year off, year abroad, deferred year and a time out. And really, who doesn’t need a time out once in awhile? The tradition of taking a gap year began during the 1960′s in England, and was usually taken after secondary school ended and before the first year of college or university. In 1978 Charles, the Prince of Wales began the Raleigh International which comprised of Operation Drake, a gap year expedition voyage around the world following Sir Francis Drake’s route.

With the advent of Operation Drake, the gap year took on a new purpose. Students were taking the opportunity to work or volunteer abroad in order to expand their skill set and seek wider opportunities.

Students in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Canada often participate in international education programs, cultural immersion and independent study. It became such a huge phenomenon in Denmark that the government began to limit the number of students who took a year off from schooling. Students who delayed their education were often penalized, even if the time was spent working. In 2009, instead of penalizing students, the government began giving out monetary bonuses to students who continued on without a break.

In British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, Canada many students choose to go tree planting for a season or two before starting university. The work takes place in remote areas of the provinces, in the midst of majestic forests and diverse wildlife. Workers are housed and fed in logging camps and the conditions are similar to those of the early 20th century, with electricity often being knocked out. The benefit of tree planting is the potential wage. Planters are paid on volume, and if they do well, can earn up to $10,000US per season. However, due to rising costs of food and utilities, that amount has declined in the past few years.

Three lands who do not take part in the gap year tradition are the US, South Korea and Japan. In the US, the reason may be that medical coverage for students ends when they graduate from high school, however many believe the expense of post secondary tuition is to blame. In Japan and South Korea, the reason is much different. During the post-world war two era, the Simultaneous Recruiting of New Graduates custom began. Particularly in Japan, students begin their job hunting before they finish school so they can make some preliminary decisions on employment. Here is where the Simultaneous Recruiting of New Graduates comes in. Companies come in to a school and based upon skills and grade points, will mass hire new graduates all at once and immediately employ them. Companies in Japan for the most part, only hire students scheduled to graduate in the spring. Therefore, if a student does not decide what they want to do before they finish school, either secondary or post secondary, they will face enormous hardship when they enter the job market.

As the globe becomes smaller and social awareness on international issues becomes more prevalent, the gap year tradition is shifting. Students from Canada and the UK in particular are choosing to use their year to volunteer in third world countries or teach English as a foreign language. Young people see these opportunities as a chance to gain an international perspective and make a difference. Some choose to travel with their local church and go on missions, others choose to join a volunteer organization such as Volunteer Abroad. In Canada, many people have decided to take teaching positions in Asian countries. One year contracts to teach English in elementary schools are relatively easy to obtain, offer a great international experience, and pay a fairly decent wage by western standards.

The concept of a gap year began as an opportunity to explore and relax before beginning university. Now the tradition incorporates so much more than exploration. Students are traveling, finding work, helping their fellow human beings and gaining a wider perspective on the world they live in. All of the experiences they gain will add to their own skill set as they evolve into careers. The trick in making a gap year successful is not in the destination, but in the appreciation of what is learned. Take the knowledge into college or university, and eventually into your working life.

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