Gap Years for TCKs

We enjoyed our webinar with Bethanie Skipper, MEd, about gap years. Those who registered received the recording and notes, but the information was so good that we wanted to share this with education consultants everywhere. What follows is a summary of the information that Bethanie shared with us.

A gap year should provide enrichment, which may include refreshment or renewal, and preparation for what is next for a particular student after high school. Bethanie emphasized that gap years should be part of overall post-high school planning, and be in line with what the plans are for a student.

There are many reasons to recommend gap years to the TCKs we serve, including extra time to earn money for college and preparation for college life or life in a different country than a student’s family. Gap years are not recommended unless they have a particular focus or because of fear about the next steps towards college/university or career. 

Here are some recommendations you might make to a family considering a gap year:

• TCK views of the world are limited to where they grew up. Consider a gap year in a different part of the world.
• TCKs may not have had exposure to internships or PT jobs or job shadowing, so this could be a great time to do this.
• TCKs may be ahead in some areas and behind in others; some skills may not be transferable from place to place. A gap year might be a good time to work on needed skills.
• Discipleship and/or counseling may be a need for some TCKs.
• Volunteering in a different capacity within the family ministry could offer valuable experience and training..
• Bring the student into the conversation! Students need to learn to advocate for themselves appropriately.

Good questions for consultants to ask might include:

• Why are you considering this? Where is this coming from?
• What will the focus be of the gap year?
• What are your long-term plans? What is after the gap year/Semester?
• Go back to Family Education Plan and family values; how does this fit in?

Bethanie recommended this as a good website to explore: https://www.gapyearassociation.org.

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