Written by Zoë Howie on 11 / 07 / 2024
Gap Year Advice
In today's fast-paced, digitally dominated world, personal development often takes a backseat. Who knew you could order your morning coffee and have it delivered without even having to get out of bed?! For parents of 18-20 year-olds, encouraging your young adults to travel in their gap year might be the best gift you can give them.
With the recent news that UCAS are abolishing their personal
statements and opting for 3 specific questions to be answered instead -
one of them being about experiences outside of the classroom that would
support your application - these personal development skills are more
important now than ever.
Traveling offers unique opportunities for growth that classroom learning, and everyday routines simply can't match. So, let's explore this to further understand how personal development - through gap year travel - can transform your young adult into a confident, communicative, and resourceful individual. It’s time for them to put the Iphone down, look up and think on their feet.
One of the most significant benefits of gap year travel is the boost in self-confidence it provides. Navigating through new cities, interacting with diverse cultures, and overcoming language barriers require young travelers to step out of their comfort zones. Each successful navigation or conversation is a small victory that builds their confidence. These experiences teach them to trust their instincts and believe in their abilities. This is priceless.
Consider the scenario where your child has to figure out public transportation in a foreign country. Initially, they might feel overwhelmed, but as they get the hang of it, their confidence will soar. These real-world problem-solving experiences are invaluable, and the confidence gained extends beyond travel, positively affecting their academic and professional lives.
Leap example: It takes guts to do a team programme and interact with strangers who soon become team mates and friends. Our Costa Rica programme for example really helps to build confidence by taking you on 4 different phases - meaning differing terrains and challenges throughout which will help you find inner confidence and the desire to do onward travel afterwards with your new friends.
Traveling is a crash course in communication. Whether it's asking for directions, ordering food, or making new friends, your young traveler will constantly engage in conversations. These interactions improve their verbal and non-verbal communication skills. They learn to express themselves clearly, listen actively, and understand different accents and dialects.
In non-English-speaking countries, the challenge of communicating with limited vocabulary can significantly enhance their creativity and patience. They might use gestures, facial expressions, or even learn a few phrases in the local language. These experiences make them better communicators and more empathetic individuals.
Leap example: Our Peru programme will have you staying with our wonderful homestay families for part of their stay, where communication is everything. You will be learning how to communciate effectively with them as they don't speak much English - it will teach your Leaper to listen as well as try and speak Spanish to communicate effectively with the home stay families.
For many 18–20-year-olds, traveling may be their first experience of true independence. They have to manage their finances, stick to travel schedules, and take care of their belongings. These responsibilities foster a sense of independence and maturity.
Traveling on their gap year also teaches them to handle unexpected situations. Missed flights, lost luggage, or sudden changes in plans require quick thinking and adaptability. These experiences help them develop resilience and a can-do attitude, essential traits for personal and professional success.
Leap example: All of our programmes teach independence and responsibility but our Colombia programme comes to mind here as there are a number of treks they will do such as the canyon trek to prepare them for the Lost City trek where they will need to be mindful of their personal responsibility when it comes to things like ensuring they have packed the right kit, that they have stayed hydrated and taken care of their own needs to ensure they all reach the top together as a team.
While technology and smart phones are of course a huge resource for travelling, and there are countless apps to solve your dilemas – whether that be maps or banking, there is something to be said for putting them down and actually speaking to real people. Your traveller will find themselves in off-grid destinations where wifi or 4G won’t be available and it will encourage them to think on their feet using what is in front of them and speaking to locals to find their way. We are not bashing the use of phones or offering a total digital detox, merely suggesting that travel and our programmes inparticular will help encourage resourceful skills, and resilience in scenarios which help propel them in life.
One of the biggest challenges today is getting young adults to put down their phones. Travel offers a natural solution to this issue. New environments and experiences are far more engaging than screens. Whether it’s hiking up a mountain, exploring a historic site, or simply enjoying a beach sunset, these moments encourage them to be present and appreciate the world around them.
Interacting with new people and cultures also promotes face-to-face communication over digital interactions. They learn the value of human connections and experiences over virtual ones. This reduction in screen time not only benefits their mental health but also enhances their ability to focus and engage deeply with their surroundings.
Leap example: If you want somewhere that is so breathtaking and off grid then check out our Peru programme which will have you trekking Machu Picchu with not a mobile phone signal in sight as you put the phone down and look up and be fully present. Save the phone for the photos you will want to take at the top.
Travel often comes with its set of challenges, from navigating unfamiliar territories to dealing with travel delays. These situations require quick thinking and effective problem-solving. Young travelers learn to assess situations, make informed decisions, and think on their feet.
For instance, if they find themselves lost in a foreign city, they will need to rely on maps, ask locals for directions, or figure out public transportation. Each of these challenges is an opportunity to hone their problem-solving skills, making them more resourceful and capable individuals.
Leap example: All our programmes will encourage problem-solving skills but our Kenya programme will get you thinking. While here you will be helping to tackle the over-fishing crisis with our amazing team out there and their pioneering project that is so successful it is being rolled out along the coast. While here you will be coming up with innovative ways to recycle and reuse as well as building coral structures to plant into the ocean, coral gardening and working alongside the community to help deliver them safe drinking water.
Gap year travel exposes young adults to diverse cultures, traditions, and ways of life. This exposure fosters cultural awareness and sensitivity. They learn to appreciate differences, respect cultural norms, and understand global issues from various perspectives. This broadened worldview is crucial in today’s interconnected world.
Cultural awareness also enhances their ability to work in diverse environments and relate to people from different backgrounds. These skills are increasingly valued in both academic and professional settings.
Leap example: Get stuck in embracing the local culture on our Cambodia programme as you learn to cook local dishes, work with children to help them improve their reading skills and visit the iconic temples this country has to offer. This is a culture-shock but in the best way possible as it awakens all your senses.
Encouraging your 18-20 year-old to travel on their gap year is one of the best investments in their personal development. The confidence, communication skills, independence, reduced screen time, problem-solving abilities, and cultural awareness they gain will serve them well throughout their lives. So, the next time your young adult expresses a desire to explore the world, support them wholeheartedly. Personal development through gap year travel is an enriching journey that will shape them into well-rounded, capable, and empathetic individuals.
Our gap year travel programmes provide the perfect balance for personal growth - it gives them a comfy landing in country when they get picked up with the team and taken to base, they don't have to worry about logistics and how to get a taxi or where to stay as we arrange every aspect of their programme. Each of our programmes subtly interweve all of the above personal development skills into the itinerary and gently encourage the Leaper to learn, grow and challenge themselves. We often find that Leapers forge such great friendships and have learnt the ropes with travelling that they decide to do onward travel after their Leap programme is finished with their new friends.
We feel that if we have done our job here at The Leap correctly, then your traveller will return feeling accomplished, quietly confident, resilient and ready to tackle life’s hurdles knowing they have all the right ingredients.
How old is too old for a Leap programme?
Anywhere older than 21 - we specialise in having a super narrow age range so that everyone is in the same boat and socialising flows.
Which programmes are most popular?
The beauty of The Leap is that it's ever-changing, but currently Kenya and Costa Rica.
How long are your programmes?
They are 3 or 4 weeks - perfectly designed to be short sharp adventures that give your traveller a comfortable landing in country, and helps them find their feet and become travel savvy before spreading their wings and doing onward travel with their new friends.