After high school, not everyone wants to jump into college. Such a big decision at such a young age is scary for some people, especially for those who are unsure of what path they are on or want to take. Therefore, for some, a gap year is the best option. This allows young adults to figure out what they want to do while also having free time traveling and gaining work experience, but not all people make the most out of this time. For those with life challenges such as ADHD, Autism, “Asperger’s,” anxiety disorders, etc., they may find it hard to stay productive during this year or even view it as anything more than an extended summer vacation. They also may lose some of their social skills,  self-confidence and other life skills while they are at home since most of their friends may be away at college. This is why knowing how to make the most out of a gap year is so important. It prevents the young adult from falling behind while also giving them more time to figure out their next steps in life.

A gap year is supposed to be enlightening. It allows those who take it to weigh their options while also getting things done that may be too hard to do when in college, but it can also leave important skills on the back burner. Making sure you still practice and utilize the proper social and executive functioning skills during a gap year keep young adults from becoming weak in those categories. For those with life challenges, it may be more difficult, especially since the parent is still at home with them. They may feel as if they do not need to work as hard to maintain these skills since they have their parents as a cushion but transitioning into independent life within the next year may prove difficult if they continue to lean on this crutch. However, not all young adults live with their parents during their gap year, which makes it even more important for them to continue to socialize, organize, plan, time manage, etc., all on their own. Since they have more free time than the average student, they need to ensure the time is not wasted doing things that may not be beneficial to them since a gap year is not a break, but an opportunity for them to grow and thrive as people.

Keeping up and making sure that during this gap year your young adult is staying social is important to not only their lifestyle, but mental health. A source states, “They still need a structure to encourage social interaction. Many young people with [life challenges] retreat into an isolated lifestyle and are very vulnerable to depression. During this “gap” year, find organized social opportunities, led by individuals who understand [their life challenges]. (Quarterman, 2021). Along with this, prioritizing work experience is also important. It can enable them to practice their important skills such as executive functioning on a daily basis while also providing social interactions and a sense of independence. Yet, “Youth unemployment stood at 8.2 percent in November 2022.” (statista, 2022). Although it is not an astronomical number, it is still important to keep pushing for their independence, but working and socializing are not always easy for those with life challenges to do during a gap year, and the College Life Skills Program acknowledges that.

At the CollegeLSP, we professionally coach those who are college bound, in college, and after college develop the skills needed to excel in independent life. We can help keep the skills independent adults need in their lives by meeting from once to a few times a week to ensure they are continually practicing the skills needed to make the most out of their gap year and prevent them from becoming independent. Our team of Doctoral and Master level professionals uses our individualized, proprietary, evidence-based approaches developed with the real-life experience of thousands of students over three decades to aid young adults in their journey to independence. So, if you’re worried that a gap year may cause your young adult to fall behind, the  CollegeLSP is more than qualified to help.

Dr. Eric J. Nach, Ph.D., M.Ed., A.S.D.C., is a Developmental and Behavioral Specialist who specializes in Autism, ADHD and related disorders. Dr. Nach is the founder of the College Life Skills Program where he and his team of professional’s help develop the Emotional Maturity, Executive Functioning, Life Skill and Social Abilities of college students and those high school students preparing for college. The CollegeLSP is a subsidiary program of the Support For Students Growth Center, located in Boca Raton, FL and providing services nationwide.

Pamela Quarterman, S. L. P. (2021, July 1). What you need to know about the benefits of taking gap year with autism. Autism Parenting Magazine. Retrieved December 13, 2022, from https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/taking-gap-year-with-autism/

Published by Statista Research Department, & 6, D. (2022, December 6). Youth unemployment rate U.S. November 2022. Statista. Retrieved December 16, 2022, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/217448/seasonally-adjusted-monthly-youth-unemployment-rate-in-the-us/Â