The Gap Year

Although unnamed, I had thought about it often. A year between high school and college when I could have figured out what I really wanted to do. Some time after college, traveling the world or volunteering with an org like Americorps. A hope for my children, when I mentioned to my husband a few years ago that I wanted the kids to spend a year "doing something" before going to work for the rest of their lives. Now, thanks to my attendance at Susan Wise Bauer's lecture at the NW Washington Homeschool conference, it has a name. "The Gap Year".

No, this is not a year the kids will spend working at the Gap, theoretically saving money for college, but actually spending it on Gap clothing, music CD's, video games, or whatever else is the latest craze. It is a thoughtfully planned out year between high school and college that will be included in our long-term homeschooling agenda. Hopefully, the planning will be mostly child-led with parental collaboration. A well planned gap year should include travel - ideally in the form of volunteerism - and work. Susan Wise Bauer got alot of laughs at the lecture when she said she wants her kids working in "The Office" - you know, the one with Michael Scott as the boss. (Thursday's on NBC). She wants her kids to know there is something more to aspire to. Not a bad idea.....

During the lecture, Susan detailed the many benefits of having kids do a Gap year. It gives the kids time to mature before heading to college. It gives them a sense of the greater world - not just theirs. It might hopefully inspire new ideas and create a passion to pursue during the college years and beyond.

Is it too late for me to have a Gap year????


PS - Wouldn't you know - they have websites and articles on it!!!!!!


Try these for a start -

USA Today - Gap Year
Transitions Abroad
Catholic Gap Year