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Duration
at BRGS Years
7-11, 1995-2000 |
Date
of submitting these answers: |
| Why did you take a gap year? - was it planned? | |
The
main reason for taking a gap year was because
I wasn't 100% sure that I had made the right
decision regarding going to uni. I wanted
to be certain that what I was planning to
do was right for me - and it was! |
|
| What did you do on your gap year, and why? | |
| I decided that if I was to have a gap year, I was going to do something worthwhile. I looked at doing a Bunac scheme but decided it wasn't for me. I took a family holiday to The Gambia and that was it, my decision was made. I looked at opportunities to teach out there and joined a Christian Mission to teach in a primary school funded by a number of churches in the UK. | |
| What were the advantages of taking a gap year? What did you achieve? | |
So
many advantages, but the main one was getting
some 'life experience'. I saw things that were worse than you could ever imagine; children living in poverty, no drinking water, but seeing these sights have made be appreciate life so much more. I faced challenges every day which made me take responsibility, make decisons, change lives - now I feel that I am able to overcome any obstacle. This challenge gave me the confidence to approach university with a determination to succeed and a confidence to go out there and make friends. |
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| Were there any disadvantages to taking a gap year? | |
| At the time there are no disadvantages but I'm in my final year now and in a way I wish I had just got on with going to uni. I feel I have spent so long in education that I just want to finish now - but then alot of my friends feel like that and they didn't do a gap year. So, I guess, there are no real disadvantages! | |
| Was the university which offered you a place, happy for you to defer entry and take a gap year? | |
| In a way they actually encourage you to get life experience so are more than happy for you to defer for a year - especially if you go and do something worthwhile! | |
How did you raise money to fund yourself through your gap year? |
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| As A Levels finish in June, I spent 5 months working to get enough money to support me whilst I was in The Gambia - when I got back, I worked till I went to university in September. | |
| Would you recommend what you did on your gap year to others? | |
| I recommend having a gap year to everyone and personally I loved being out in Africa but a lot of people found it difficult to get used to - its not the easy option! | |
| Any other comments about gap years: | |
| If you're thinking about then do it... you'll not regret it! If your gap year is half as good as mine you'll love it! | |
| Read about Nicola's university experience... | |
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