How does taking a gap year facilitate personal development and growth?
Here at the Warriors Academy, you will often hear us talk about how a gap year experience facilitates personal development and growth in young people. The truth is that taking a ga
Published on July 03, 2024
In
Gap Year
Written by Rowena Van Schalkwyk
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Here at the Warriors Academy, you will often hear us talk about how a gap year experience facilitates personal development and growth in young people. The truth is that taking a gap year, especially a structured one, is a completely transformative experience for young people.
This experience often challenges them to step out of their comfort zones, resulting in a lot of emotional, mental and often physical growth. For us, a gap year facilitates personal development and growth in the following ways:
- Self-Discovery: Gap years offer an opportunity to step out of the routine and explore personal interests, values, and passions. This self-discovery can lead to a better understanding one’s identity and purpose.
- Cultural Awareness: a gap year program that provides a multicultural experience, like ours, can significantly broaden one’s perspective. Exposure to diverse ways of life, beliefs, and customs fosters cultural sensitivity and empathy, which leads to personal growth.
- Independence: a gap year often involves being away from the comfort and support of home. This can encourage self-reliance, decision-making, and problem-solving skills as these young adults navigate new environments and challenges on their own.
- Adaptability: being in an unfamiliar setting forces individuals to adapt to new situations and cultures. Learning to thrive in these conditions builds resilience and adaptability, important life skills.
- Skill Development: Gap year experiences can provide opportunities to learn new skills or hone existing ones. Whether it’s acquiring technical skills or gaining hands-on experience in a particular field, these skills can be valuable for future education and career prospects.
- Confidence Building: Successfully navigating the challenges of a gap year can boost self-confidence. Overcoming obstacles, setting and achieving goals, and gaining new experiences all contribute to a sense of self-assurance.
- Networking: Gap year experiences often involve meeting people from various backgrounds and walks of life. Building a diverse network of contacts can be valuable for future opportunities and personal growth.
- Increased Maturity: Time away from the structured school environment can lead to increased maturity and a deeper understanding of responsibility. Managing finances, making decisions, and dealing with unexpected situations all contribute to personal growth.
- Emotional Resilience: Gap years can come with both highs and lows. Dealing with homesickness, culture shock, or setbacks teaches emotional resilience and coping strategies.
- Global Perspective: Exposure to different parts of the world fosters a global perspective, helping individuals understand global issues, appreciate cultural diversity, and engage in global problem-solving.
- Personal Reflection: With fewer external pressures and distractions, a gap year provides an opportunity for introspection and personal reflection. This can create a clearer sense of goals, values, and priorities.
Each of the above personal growth and development goals is what we focus on here at the Warriors Academy. For more on our gap year program, visit: https://www.warriors.co.za/gap-year-programs
Join Our 2025 Gap Year
Our 2025 Gap Year Applications Are Open!
Are you looking for an adventure Gap Year in South Africa? Then look no further than the Warriors Academy.
Our Gap Year program is structured to include four 7-week Quests. Each Quest has its own set of adventure activities, soft skill workshops and personal mentoring sessions.
During each Quest, you will travel through different parts of South Africa, experiencing wild animal encounters, some of the most sought-after hiking exhibitions, scuba diving in Sodwana, wine tasting in Cape Town, river rafting on the Orange River and more.
You will be taught several different skill sets focused on equipping you with the skills needed to live the life you want to live, including TRE, Quantum Logic, Public Speaking workshops, Rebounding and more.
Are you battling with finding direction? We have you covered with career guidance and personal development workshops. We also aim to give back to the communities we visit through various community-building activities.
Contact Rowena at rowena@warriors.co.za for more information and pricing!
