A gap year after college

A gap year is quite common for someone who has just finished high school and has not started college however it’s  a taboo when it comes to mid college or post college gap years. Once you’re in the game, you’re expected to become a career focused person without much thought given to what you actually want.  In some societies, taking a gap year in the middle of college is considered a blunder, like you’re going to screw up the rest of your life if that gets on your academic records. I grew up in a society like that.

Taking a gap year in the middle of a course was unimaginable even when I felt overwhelmed or needed to rethink some parts of my life.  A part of me wanted to get over with it but a part of me also wanted to slow down. Although I am happy to have finally finished my undergraduate study this April, I think I’ll give the gap year a chance now.

To say that college was difficult would be an understatement for me. It was every bit grueling, tiring, emotional, happy, fun, anxious as I can ever imagine. I graduated from a five year architecture degree course (B.Arch) and it was the hardest thing I had to do so far (I’m sure any Architect will agree).  I am still on the fence about where I want to be but I made it through, that’s the bit I am glad about.  I’m an architect now but not sure if I’m ready to dive into a career just yet. What I took away from this experience is that it’s okay to not have it all figured out even when people think you do.

I have some big decisions to make about the future, like graduate school or working somewhere and what kind of job I’d actually like being in. The best way to take such important decisions is to be in the calmest state of mind I’ve ever been in the last five years…and that’s now. I feel so much better without any expectations poking their way into my life. It’s the perfect time to take a year off to nurture myself.

I feel free. I smile more often. I have nothing pressing my mind. I am hopeful and positive.

I have also been on the opposite end of this spectrum and know now that I don’t belong there.

Here's a list of my gap year goals:

#1 Get an internship.

#2 Make decisions about graduate school & prepare for applications.

#3 Travel.

#4 Discover myself.

#5 Learn a new language

#6 Give my blog a much needed boost and bring it back to where it used to be & more.

#7 Make a posting schedule and stick to it.

#8 Take beautiful photographs.

#9 Write more personal posts.

#10 Volunteer

#11 Love - everyone and everything around me that makes me happy.

And the most important of all…Love myself, even if I don’t get through everything in this long list of things.

It takes courage to stop doing what is acceptable and start doing what you need.  If you ever feel like you need a break, take it and be unapologetic about it. You owe it to yourself, your heart, mind and soul.