Everyone tells you that the four years of undergrad go by in the blink of an eye, but you never really understand that concept until you're sitting in your first day of class senior year. Knowing that in a few months you'll be leaving the place that you know and love is the most surreal feeling. You may be so ready for "adult life" to begin, but it's still scary to think about leaving behind the life that you know. There's a comfort in being a college student, even if you feel like you're ready to move on.
People start asking you all the time what you'll be doing after graduation, and honestly, it's overwhelming. Whether you have a clear plan or not, it can be scary to think about the next steps and leaving your perfect college town.
On the other hand, some people are dying to escape their university bubble and get out in the real world. After you graduate college, you have the unique ability to go anywhere you want and do anything your heart desires. There are no school districts or curriculums tying you down to a strict schedule or geographic area.
There is no better time than now to get out of your comfort zone and explore the world. Traveling across the globe is a big change from being locked up in a dorm room or the campus library, like the past few semesters.
As spontaneous as this adventure may sound, it requires a significant amount of planning in order to successfully pull off the perfect gap year. Without adequate preparation, your travels could be cut short by unexpected interruptions.
For example, you should expect to have an emergency cash fund and budget your finances carefully. You might have some money saved up from graduation gifts or your part-time internship from last semester, but finances can get away from you when you're constantly booking flights and hotels.
You should also consider applying for a work visa in whatever country you're going to call your new home. This makes it much easier to pick up a side-gig in between all your sight seeing. Every country's international employee policies are a little bit different, so be sure to do your research before you set off.
Before you depart, you also need to prioritize all the things you want to see and do. While you may think it would be easier to take the weekend trips as they come, you'll never accomplish everything you want to if you don't have a set plan.
Surviving undergrad and earning a degree is something worth celebrating. Taking a gap year can be the perfect way to reward your hard work while exploring new parts of the world and yourself.
Plus, it never hurts to delay adulthood by just a few months. After two decades of your life spent in classrooms, a little adventure can be just what you need to reset before diving into your professional career. Who knows, you may even fall in love with a position abroad and realize an unknown destiny in a foreign place!
