Ten Things Your Teen Can Do After Graduation Besides College
It’s that time of year again. Spring break is over and high school seniors are counting down the days until they are free from the mandatory portion of their education. If they haven’t been asked already, the second after they toss that graduation cap in the air some adult will ask them…
“So…what’s next?”
Many will reply with news about going away to college. Some will have plans for community college or trade school. Others have jobs lined up, and a few will admit to having no clue.
When I graduated high school in the 1980s, I went right to college because I thought that’s what I was supposed to do. Taking a “gap year” wasn’t really a thing back then, though I probably would have benefited from the time to mature and figure out what I wanted to do with my life.
Now as a parent with the internet at my fingertips, I see that there are literally hundreds of opportunities for young adults to do something productive after high school graduation besides college.
I’m not saying your teen shouldn’t go to college. It’s a popular option for a lot of students. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2022, roughly 61.8 percent of recent high school graduates enrolled in either four- or two-year college programs. The bad news is that, depending on your source, anywhere from 25 percent to 50 percent of them will never finish their degree.
College might need to wait.
Kids entering college right now lost a few critical years of high school to the Covid pandemic. They were stuck at home with their parents when they should have been out with their friends, and as a result many never gained the confidence that comes from making stupid decisions and seeing what happens. Too many of these teens never left their zip code for more than a few hours are now having a hard time being away from home, never mind the academic challenges. If confidence isn’t an issue, they might not be mature enough to handle college life just yet. Or maybe they’re burned out mentally and need a break from exams and deadlines.
If your teen wants to go to college, but they’re not ready, what can they do? Or even if they aren’t planning on college, but still need/want to take the year off, what then? Or maybe they are a little bit lost and unsure of the path they want to take? What are their options?
Most parents raise their kids with a common goal: to be healthy, productive adult members of society. There are many paths to success and we all know that sometimes detours can lead us to beautiful places.
You don’t have to follow the college crowd.
Parents often fear that if the child gets out of the academic world, they might not ever go back. They don’t want students to lose momentum. Sure, it’s a possibility, but the likely scenario is that they’ll be more focused the following year and more successful at whatever they choose to do.
A reminder for anyone who needs to hear it…you can go to college/school at any age.
19? 21? 30? 45? Yes. Schools will always take your money no matter how old you are.
Assuming you’ve all agreed on a break…what can a teen do with a gap year? I am in no way suggesting that the teen just sits around the house sleeping and staring at their phone for a year. That’s not good for anyone. Talk to them about what they hope to gain from the experiences. Sure, there will be some fun and relaxation, but ideally, they use the time to build confidence and life skills.
With that in mind, here’s my top ten list:
- Travel – there are various ways to do this based on your financial situation. On the less expensive end, the teen can stay in the U.S. and plan a series of trips. Maybe staying with family and friends along the way, camping, or renting an RV. They could visit several national parks and or areas of cultural interest. On the more expensive end, they could travel abroad to see the world and stay in hostels. If it makes you feel better to have your child not be totally on their own, I suggest group travel with Efgapyear.com.
- Volunteer – let your teen experience the joy of helping others. It’s also one of the best ways to get work experience and can also offer some great travel options. These are just a few ideas, feel free to list others in the comments section!
International Volunteer HQ: www.volunteerhg.org
Global Volunteers: globalvolunteers.org
AmeriCorps: americorps.gov
Love Volunteers: lovevolunteers.org
American Red Cross: redcross.org
Habitat for Humanity: habitat.org
Feeding America: feedingamerica.org - Intern/apprenticeship – for a teen who is not entirely sure what career path they want, they can try things out in a safe (inexpensive) way. Teens can find an internship in a field of choice for a year – museums, parks, businesses, environmental groups. Google “whatever field”gap year (ex: “biology gap year” or “archeologist gap year”). If they’ve always thought they wanted to be a veterinarian, let them spend a year interning at a local office – better to find out now what the job is really like before taking classes.
- Pursue a passion – If they are not sure about what they want to do, or just need a break from academia, then maybe it’s time to really explore some interests. They can learn a new language, take their instrument to the next level, or try a new skill like cooking or woodworking. Spend the whole year devoted to whatever passion you choose, exploring it from every direction possible. The important thing with this option is to have a plan or goal just to keep the year on track.
- Farming – If your teen likes animals and doesn’t mind getting their hands dirty, trying farm life could be the best thing for them. Have them join the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) network to get first-hand experience in gardening and organic farming. These types of opportunities are perfect for those who want to experience the countryside and enjoy a cultural exchange while joining the organic movement. My daughter has been doing this since September, and has visited four different farms, and loving every minute of it. All farms in the system are different, but usually offer free lodging, and some cover all meals. It’s an inexpensive way to travel the U.S. and abroad. Visit https://wwoof.net/ for more info.
- Scholarships and funding: Does your teen have an idea of what they’d like to do but not the finances? GO Overseas money is available for specific programs depending on where you live and what your needs are. Visit https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/gap-year-scholarships for ideas.
- Boating – Perhaps travelling by land isn’t enough for your teen… maybe they could take a year doing research and having an experience at sea? Plenty of study abroad and gap year sea voyages at Sea Mester at www.seamester.com.
- Leadership/Outdoor Adventure: Nothing beats Outward Bound for their variety of programs that teach team building, leadership and survival skills. Visit outwardbound.org for more information on short and semester-long programs.
- Animals/Wildlife – Even if your teen wants to go to business school next year, they might still get a lot out of working with endangered species in beautiful places. It’s satisfying work that teaches responsibility, both for themselves and for other creatures. Check out Volunteer World at www.volunteerworld.com for opportunities to work with all kinds of animals in the U.S. and around the world.
- Combo: Does your teen need to spend the year earning some money? Or do they want to do a little travelling and a little volunteering? Then plan a combination of activities. They could get a job/learn a new skill for the year, do several different short volunteer trips, or take the fall to learn an online course/take the spring to work at a horse sanctuary in Montana.
Nothing can give a child more confidence than figuring the world out on their own, in a new environment. Problem solving and surviving. Making mistakes when the stakes are low. Meeting people from different cultures. Learning basic life skills like navigating a crowded airport, handling minor medical emergencies, and how to schedule their time are things they can’t learn sitting at home.
Bottom line is that there is no wrong way to do a gap year, except by doing nothing. Dive into the above links and social media (type “gap year” in TikTok and see a world of possibilities.).
I hope this helps your child navigate the transition into adulthood – it can be a bumpy ride, so they might as well have an adventure or two to brag about to their children. And as a side note…this list also offers a lot of ideas for empty nesters and retirees too!
Enjoy!