gap year
Pre-college sabbatical
A gap year is a year taken off from formal education, typically between high school and college, spent traveling, working, or gaining life experience.
The practice originated in Britain but has spread globally: She spent her gap year backpacking through Southeast Asia.
Some students take a gap year after college before entering the workforce.
Break in activity
- time offScheduled absence from duties
- breatherBrief period of rest
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
- respiteShort pause from hardship
intermission · downtime · rest · recess · interlude · decompression · transition · breathing room
Learning one's true character
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- independenceFreedom from external control
- confidence buildingDeveloping self-assurance
- skill acquisitionGaining new abilities
personal development · adaptability · life skills · responsibility · time management · critical thinking · resilience · empowerment
Self-supported wilderness travel
- hostelsInexpensive shared accommodations
- itineraryPlanned sequence of destinations
- destinationsPlaces one travels to
- sightseeingVisiting places of interest
couchsurfing · roadtrip · guidebook · airfare · budget · landmarks · globetrotter · trains
Authorized delay of obligation
- universityHigher education institution
- collegeHigher education institution
- admissionEntry or confession
- enrollmentAct of registering officially
tuition · scholarship · undergraduate · postsecondary · semester · degree · campus · transcript
Giving service without pay
- internshipSupervised professional trial period
- au pairForeign live-in childcare worker
- teaching abroadInstructing students overseas
- work exchangeLabor for accommodation arrangement
stipend · placement · NGO · community service · farm work · seasonal work · resume building · references
Long-distance foot travel
- safariWildlife observation journey
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- divingEntering water deliberately
- surfingRiding waves standing up
mountaineering · rafting · paragliding · ziplining · canyoneering · thrill-seeking · adrenaline · pilgrimage
hiatus
Break in activity
- time offScheduled absence from duties
- breatherBrief period of rest
- pauseTemporary cessation of activity
respite · intermission · downtime · rest · recess · interlude · decompression · transition · breathing room · reset
self-discovery
Learning one's true character
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- independenceFreedom from external control
- confidence buildingDeveloping self-assurance
skill acquisition · personal development · adaptability · life skills · responsibility · time management · critical thinking · resilience · empowerment · finding yourself
backpacking
Self-supported wilderness travel
- hostelsInexpensive shared accommodations
- itineraryPlanned sequence of destinations
- destinationsPlaces one travels to
sightseeing · couchsurfing · roadtrip · guidebook · airfare · budget · landmarks · globetrotter · trains · locals
deferment
Authorized delay of obligation
- universityHigher education institution
- collegeHigher education institution
- admissionEntry or confession
enrollment · tuition · scholarship · undergraduate · postsecondary · semester · degree · campus · transcript · credits
volunteering
Giving service without pay
- internshipSupervised professional trial period
- au pairForeign live-in childcare worker
- teaching abroadInstructing students overseas
work exchange · stipend · placement · NGO · community service · farm work · seasonal work · resume building · references · work permit
trekking
Long-distance foot travel
- safariWildlife observation journey
- expeditionOrganized exploratory journey
- divingEntering water deliberately
surfing · mountaineering · rafting · paragliding · ziplining · canyoneering · thrill-seeking · adrenaline · pilgrimage · odyssey
- years
- career breakssabbatical, maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave, medical leave
- College decisionscollege choice, study abroad, graduate school, double major, honors program
- voluntourismvolunteer abroad, voluntourism, voluntourist, service trips, mission trip
- schoolingelementary school, school, middle school, high school, primary schools
- careersdoctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, nurse