The Reinvention of the Gap Year
Things look very different for the Class of 2020. Where most students had expectations of college enrollment, pledging Greek life, and starting anew, those plans are mostly dashed. Parents are not seeing the value in paying those out-of-state price tags for a Zoom education in their childhood bedroom. Let us be real, no one would pay for that. So, what are we left to do instead? Insert: the reinvention of the gap year.
Gone are the days where the idea of a gap year being solely for the against-the-grain student who wanted to spend 12 months traveling the globe. Although that is still certainly characteristic of some gap options, but not the majority. In fact, a lot of gap options moving forward are domestic. If you are not sure where to even begin to look for options, you can start with the Virtual Alt Fair Series as well as reference the Gap Year Association website to learn more about options. Overwhelmed by all the options? Do not fret! Hire a professional to help you narrow down the best fitting options for you.
The difference between programs vary. It is important to note that not one single program looks similar. Programs can range in location, recreation, employment, education, vocation, peer group, cost, transferability to higher education (if you want to go that route), mental health supports (if that is a priority), and COVID-19 protocols, just to name a few. These programs span across the US and will allow your young adult to continue to grow into adulthood, rather than stall out living at home and waiting for colleges to “open up like normal.” Welcome to our new normal . Unless we miraculously come up with a cure within the next two months, this is the world we are living in for a while. Time to stock up on those masks if you have not already!
The important piece to know as a parent is that your young adult does not have to live with you. Period. There are more than ample options available to you and your child to find something for them to move out and participate in come Fall. No, it is not the college move-in-date that you had in mind. If you do not have a plan though, things will get ugly quick. You want your young adult to launch. Well college is not the option we originally thought it was going to be, so now it is time to reference plan B. Who are we kidding, we are talking about Plan Z at this point!
We are learning to reinvent the gap year. The notion of what a “gap year” was before can now be thrown out the window. Our children need to figure out how to thrive separate from their childhood home, starting now. They need to work, fend for themselves, and find ways to connect socially in finding enjoyment in adult life. Again, it many not be what you originally planned for your child. It is certainly a better plan than letter them wallow in their childhood bedroom doing nothing.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
