No more school, no more books, and no more teachers telling you to put that phone away during class! But is going to university straight out of high school the best move for students in this economy?
Canadian high schoolers might be better off taking a year between high school and post-secondary, opting to work, save money and experience a little fun and freedom before committing to years of shoestring student living.
- Gap years buy young people time to figure out their career trajectory so they don’t waste years studying something they aren’t interested in.
- And once they hit the books, those who take a gap year complete their education in less time, a perk of going back to school with more life experience.
Why it’s happening: Teens are graduating in an uncertain economy where inflation has made everything more expensive, especially the three major student spending areas: Tuition, rent and food.
- “Young people are becoming more aware of the finances associated with post-secondary and the reality that they’re growing up in,” Michelle Dittmer, co-founder of the Canadian Gap Year Association, told the Toronto Star.
If you (or a young scholar in your life) does decide to take a gap year, here’s how to get the most out of it:
Find a job you think you might like. Take the opportunity to dip your toes into the field you’re considering. Want to be a doctor? See if you can get an entry-level job at a hospital or clinic to get a sense of the environment you’d be working in.
Volunteer with an organization in your potential field. This is a great way to make some professional connections without any credentials. If you want to be a city planner, volunteer with your municipality’s heritage board.
Learn a new skill or hobby. Learning is a lifelong adventure, so take the time away from mandatory readings to explore non-school-based learning. Pick a craft or hobby and let your passion lead for a while.
- Travel somewhere new. It could be another province or another continent, but the point is getting a fresh perspective since you’ve been stuck in high school for four years.
Bottom line: A gap year is an excellent option for students who want to build up their bank accounts and head into post-secondary in a better financial position.
Hakuna shule tena, hakuna vitabu tena, na hakuna walimu tena wanaokuambia uweke simu hiyo mbali wakati wa darasa! Lakini je, kwenda chuo kikuu moja kwa moja kutoka shule ya sekondari ni hatua bora kwa wanafunzi katika uchumi huu? Wanafunzi wa shule ya sekondari ya Canada wanaweza kuwa bora kuchukua mwaka kati ya shule ya sekondari na baada ya sekondari, kuchagua kufanya kazi, kuokoa pesa na uzoefu wa furaha kidogo na uhuru kabla ya kujitolea kwa miaka ya maisha ya mwanafunzi wa viatu. - miaka ya mapumziko kununua vijana muda wa kujua trajectory yao ya kazi hivyo wao si kupoteza miaka kusoma kitu wao si nia ya. Na mara tu wanapofika kwenye vitabu, wale wanaochukua mwaka wa mapumziko kukamilisha elimu yao katika muda mfupi, faida ya kurudi shule na uzoefu zaidi wa maisha. Kwa nini ni kutokea: Vijana ni kuhitimu katika uchumi usio na uhakika ambapo mfumuko wa bei imefanya kila kitu ghali zaidi, hasa maeneo matatu kuu ya matumizi ya mwanafunzi: masomo, kodi na chakula. "Wavulana na wasichana wanaendelea kuwa na wasiwasi juu ya hali ya kifedha ya shule ya sekondari na hali ya maisha ya sasa,"" alisema Michelle Dittmer, mwanzilishi mwenza wa Chama cha Canada cha Mwaka wa Mapumziko, kwa Toronto Star." Kama wewe (au mwanafunzi mchanga katika maisha yako) haina kuamua kuchukua gap mwaka, hapa ni jinsi ya kupata zaidi nje yake: Kupata kazi unafikiri unaweza kama. Tumia fursa hiyo kuzamisha vidole vya miguu yako katika uwanja unaochukulia. Je, unataka kuwa daktari? Angalia kama unaweza kupata kazi ya kiwango cha kuingia katika hospitali au kliniki kupata hisia ya mazingira ambayo ungefanya kazi. Jitolee fikira kufanya kazi katika shirika linalohusiana na eneo unaloishi. Hii ni njia nzuri ya kufanya baadhi ya uhusiano wa kitaaluma bila yoyote ya vyeti. Kama unataka kuwa mpangaji wa mji, kujitolea na manispaa yako ya urithi bodi. Jifunze ustadi mpya au jambo jipya la kujifurahisha. Kujifunza ni safari ya maisha yote, kwa hivyo chukua muda mbali na usomaji wa lazima kuchunguza kujifunza bila shule. Chagua kazi ya mikono au burudani na uwaache shauku yako iongoze kwa muda. - Kusafiri mahali pengine mpya. Inaweza kuwa mkoa mwingine au bara jingine, lakini uhakika ni kupata mtazamo mpya tangu umekuwa kukwama katika shule ya sekondari kwa miaka minne. Mwaka wa mapumziko ni chaguo bora kwa wanafunzi ambao wanataka kujenga akaunti zao za benki na kwenda baada ya sekondari katika hali bora ya kifedha.