Taking a gap year is a great opportunity for young people to put their academic journey on hold and re-focus where they are going in life.

It is also a fantastic way to develop greater self-confidence, boost your personal and social skills and contribute to global community cohesion.

It is too easy to coast through life; from school to college to university to job, without having a real idea of who you are and where you want to go. Many of us have a vast pool of skills and abilities that can go virtually untapped unless we give them the opportunity to shine. Taking a gap year can bring out the best in you and be a life-changing experience which can determine who you are and where you want to go in life.

A well-structured and planned year out can set you apart from others when applying to university or looking for work. In the current job market, where thousands of young people are coming out of university with similar qualifications, it is the person who has got that something extra to offer who is going to get the job. Employers are looking for people who are confident, motivated, innovative and creative. A year volunteering abroad can develop all these skills in you and make you a smart, independent young person ready to take on any challenge.

However, once you have decided to go ahead with a gap year, spend time researching, planning, taking advice and making the right decisions for you. There is a lot of bad press about gap years and the benefit to those who take them. Make sure that for you GAP is not about Go And Party, but about Guts Achievement Potential. Good luck!