For most people, a gap year often comes as an unintentional approach to figure out a crossroads road and for some, it is quite intentional, either to take a mental break from stressful life activities or just rest, because resting is as much as important as overworking yourself daily trying to make ends meet.
The problem comes when you just take a break without a purpose and just waste away your time procrastinating, and as you already know, time waits for no one. I've also found myself taking a break at some point in life, the major one happens to be when I had an exhausting 8-5 job, my life felt like it was on static, no improvement, no time for fun things or passion either. One day, I took that bold step, even though I didn't have another source of income to sustain me; one thing I had was a vision.
And that was how I ventured into fashion designing, which I do today. The gap year I took was focused on learning newfound skill I had always fantasized about knowing but never had the time. During the gap year, I still kept myself busy, practicing new patterns and designs daily, and today I have no regrets about taking that decision at the time.
The truth is that it wasn't easy, and there were moments when I questioned myself if I had taken the right decision, but I guess my passion was strong enough to see me through till I started earning from this skill.
Looking back now, I have no regrets about taking that decision, because today, I can boast of surviving anywhere I find myself, either with my skill or certificate. I don't have all my eggs in one basket as it has indeed been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. That gap year helped me discover a new passion, develop it, and eventually turn my passion into a career, all thanks to taking that leap of faith.
A gap year isn't only the time you could upgrade yourself, so make sure it is entirely necessary before taking the leap. Ask yourself what you want to accomplish during this time, and make sure not to deviate from your original plan. Also, taking a break doesn't mean you're lazy or that you lack ambition. On the contrary, I believe it means that you are willing to take a step back, restrategize, and come back better and stronger.
Don't just take a gap year for the sake of it, make sure to have a clear purpose, as this is what will keep you going and not go astray or fall into procrastination. Because without a clear direction of what you want or aim for, it is easy for you to get lost and waste your valuable time only fr you to realize when you've gone too far and it's too late to get back the wasted time or years. But when you are focused, you can use this period to learn, grow, and set yourself up for future success.
