AMELIA

I’d like to talk about taking a year out from studying, sometimes called a gap year. This is usually the year between leaving school and going to university or college, or looking for a job. I’m definitely going to take a gap year, and in this presentation I’m going to explain why I think it’s a good idea.

Firstly, a year out can give you the opportunity to see more of the world and experience different cultures. A lot of organisations offer young people opportunities to teach, work with wildlife, volunteer with children, or work on eco projects in countries such as Australia, Costa Rica, China or Cambodia. Living in a different culture can be difficult, but it’s also very interesting and exciting.

Secondly, in your gap year you can do something relevant to your future, something that’s connected with your future studies at university or a job you’re interested in. That way, you get some useful practical experience to put on your CV. For example, one of my friends is going to Ecuador next year to improve her Spanish. She wants to study modern languages at university.

Another reason for a gap year is to improve important life skills. It will teach you how to be more independent, live and work with other people, and manage your money. This will give you more self-confidence in the future. Finally, universities often like students to take a gap year. They think it’s good preparation for a university degree, especially a long course like Medicine, the one I want to do, which is five years. A year of not studying will give you a break between your final school exams and all the hard work at university. You can still apply to university in your last year at school, explain that you want to take a gap year, and most universities will give you a place a year later.