5 Things my Gap year taught me!

How does a gap year work? You take a break. It can be from doing a job, pursuing a career, or studying.

My gap year is about to end so I thought of writing this blog because I’ve heard a lot about gap year being depressing and causing trauma.

I took a gap year because no university enrolled me. I decided to go for medicine and I was punished for that.

Jokes aside, I think my gap year was a great blessing for me because I learned a lot about myself, what I want from life, and how I want to live it. I had the chance to think of other than societal norms for a bit.

My gap year started in November 2021 and now we are in December 2022 and I join my University in a week. As nerve-racking as it is, I am excited about going to a University.

I enrolled in medical universities but was behind in merit by two points. I decided to apply for fields similar to medicine or Science just because I had to.

I am not going to lie, I didn’t meet the merit in any of those fields, and I was not bumped about it. It was fortunate for me because none of those fields made me excited. And here’s a secret, neither did medicine.

I enrolled because nothing else interested me. I enrolled because I was good at Science and that’s the sole reason. I was upset when I didn’t enroll but I knew at the back of my heart that this not what I want. This is not my passion.

Point of the story, I took a gap year. At that time, I thought I’ll try again in medicine but changed my mind later.

From November to February, I did nothing. I just enjoyed my time and the fact that I don’t have anything to study. Such JOY!

I had joined a course about freelancing and creative writing but did I take the classes? No, absolutely not.

By the end of February, I got depressed. I had nothing to do the whole day and I was living in a loop. Wake up, waste your time on social media, watch Netflix, sleep, and repeat.

I changed that by starting a blog about the thing I love the most; Books. After a month, I made a Seller account on Fiverr, published a gig, waited for orders, and become rich. It was not that easy.

I started my journey of finding myself, my passion, and what I wanted to work on. It was a rollercoaster ride which I enjoyed.

Here are the five lessons I learned from my gap year:

Patience:

I didn’t realize up till my gap year, that I hate waiting. I hate when things take time. I realized that I believed in the motto “ I don’t want to do a job if I’m not immediately good at it.” I was impatient but I was stubborn too. I also hate when I can’t achieve something. I try my best to change that. And that’s exactly what I did. I started freelancing thinking that this is it! I am going to be rich. Allah had other plans for me and yes, they were better than mine. They always are.

I learned to be patient. I learned that good things can take time. They always take time.

Persistence:

I am adamant. I don’t leave something until I know that I’ve tried my best. But that doesn’t mean that I am consistent in what I do. When I started my blog, I posted once every two weeks. I had no schedule and no consistency.

Gradually, I learned to change that. I became more responsible at it and started posting with a schedule.

Even now, I miss my target sometimes but I try my best to be on time.

Passion:

My parents never forced me for a career choice. They didn’t tell me you had to follow a specific field. It’s all very supportive until you hit eighteen and they ask you what did you decide on and you have no answer.

I learned the meaning of passion in my gap year. And yes, it’s writing. Believe me when I say that I just realized it.

I enjoy writing, it is my safe place. Even with the degree that I am doing, I’m not excited about getting a job in it. I’m excited to write about it.

I will have to do a job because I like the idea of having a stable income. And I plan on becoming rich.

“Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.”- Oprah Winfrey

Societal norms:

It is the second most important thing I learned this year. My point of view about so many things changed just because I had the time to think about it, contemplate it, do research on it, and find the right answer.

I stopped thinking about them and focused on myself. I switched it off.

Acceptance:

The most important thing I learned this year. I had a habit of questioning everything. People who know me might say that this is not true but it is. I thought that nothing good will ever happen to me. Life will always be filled with difficulties and hardships.

I know that this is all life is about. Life is a test that we have to pass. I just started reminding myself more. I reminded myself that there is no right or fixed time for happiness.

I reminded myself that Allah has planned the best for me and he is preparing me for that. It will happen when it’s time.

I accepted what happened. I accepted that it was for my best. I’m not in the best place in my life right now and I think it’s a myth that one ever is. I have just learned to accept that.

Moral of the Story:

Is a gap year worth it? Yes, it is.

Gap year is a blessing and a curse. You’ll have your depressing moments but it will work out. It did for me. It gave me the much-needed break that I wasn’t ready to give myself.

With every phase of life, I end up believing in everything happens for a reason a little more.

That’s it for my gap year story, if you have one do share it with me!