College is a significant stepping stone that carries a lot of weight in many people’s lives. It’s a significant change and a big undertaking for someone just out of high school. If you feel like you want to get some more life experience or you need extra preparation before landing in that new environment, there are a lot of options for what you can do after graduating high school.
Go on a gap year.
A good option is to take a year off, where the possibilities are virtually limitless for what you can do. You can travel the world, spend time with family, explore different cultures, and experience some fun or spiritual things depending on what you’re looking for. It doesn’t even have to be something that’ll cost you much, since there are paid programs and jobs for gap year students that help cover you so you can have a fulfilling gap before heading off to college.
Get an internship.
One of the best ways to learn is by experience, so you can take this time to get an internship in a place relevant to your course or aspirations. You get to experience the industry and see things in real-time, learning from those in the field, and building up your skills. What’s important is to find a space that is conducive to that form of learning and not just a glorified fetch job that might only abuse your time and efforts.
Start a summer job.
You can also take some time to get out there and find a quick job to tide you by. Not many experiences can prep you for pressure and responsibility like being in the workforce. That can also give you an excellent avenue to save up some money that you can eventually use when you get back to school. It can also be an easy way to expand your network and have some references ready in case you need extra income during the school year.
Take extra classes.
If you’re worried about being able to keep up academically, you can always take some time to enrol in short courses that you feel can add some knowledge and ability to your repertoire. While they serve a significant role as preparatory lessons for college, they also work as standalone resources that you can carry with you no matter what you end up pursuing, especially if you go for a relevant topic.
Do some volunteer work.
Many causes could use as much help as they can. That is a fulfilling experience that can open your eyes to many things in the world that you may not otherwise be privy to. You can spend some time doing programs to help the less fortunate, improve your community, save the environment, and protect animals. And aside from being a rewarding experience that also benefits others, it doesn’t hurt that it will look good on your forms from here on out.
If you’re still worried about your future college prospects, you are not alone.
