01 Feb 2018

It’s no secret that at some point in Year 12, everyone feels overwhelmed. In fact, our research says that the top three emotions that Year 12 students use to describe their final year of schooling is stressed, anxious and frustrated.

But, planning a gap year after high school is a way to combat these emotions. Having something else to focus on and plan, knowing you’re taking a break from the stress of study and assessments in the near future and not pressuring yourself to dive straight into uni, can help make your final year actually enjoyable.

So that’s it, you’ve decided you’re taking a gap year. You’re gonna work your arse off, save every cent and travel to all those places you’ve been dreaming about since you were a kid.

There’s just one thing standing in your way- the rest of Year 12.

It may seem like a pointless endeavour to continue with Year 12 when you know you’re not heading to university next year. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to throw in the towel and spend every lesson staring mindlessly out the window.

Knowing that you’re not heading straight into another year of study after your final exams can actually take the pressure off and allow you to enjoy your final year of high school. You’ll be able to spend more time appreciating your teachers, your friends and enjoying not having life responsibilities yet- enjoy it while you can.

Plus, having something to look forward to after Year 12 will motivate you to push on through those endless exams and assignments.

When you know that you’re not counting on getting early entry to university or even necessarily needing an ATAR to continue your studies in the next year, a huge weight is lifted off your shoulders. The constant stress of cramming all that knowledge into your head and then regurgitating it in exactly the right way, can be let go. And when you’re not stressing all the time about how you’re performing, you’ll probably actually learn better-who woulda thought?

Annndddd, if you’re worried about missing out on university because you’re taking a gap year, don’t stress. There’s still heaps of ways you can get in. If you intend to go after your year off, it’s definitely still worth applying. Most courses allow you to defer your university studies for a year, sometimes more, between accepting and starting your degree.

But if you don’t know what your plans are gonna be after your gap year (or two or three) you can always apply as a non-school leaver or mature-age student, years after you actually leave high school, easy peasy.

So what are ya waiting for? Start planning.