Graduate gap year my best decision, claims writer

Taking a gap year was one of the best decisions Katherine Low ever took.

The Huffington Post writer explained how, after completing her university degree, she chose to travel the world before moving on to postgraduate study.

Katherine visited 17 countries and 45 cities during her gap year, sampling many different cultures and vibes.

"My gap year was life-changing and I experienced more in seven months than some do in a lifetime," she stated.

"But the decision to take a year off from the rat race was a hard one to make. I felt pressure to start my grad program right away and then start working."

However, Katherine feels vindicated in her choice to take a year out between uni and grad school.

She explained that, having spent time overseas, she was accepted on to every course she applied to and was also offered more sponsorship funds.

"When I turned up on my first day of classes, the program coordinator sought me out to tell me that declining acceptance to travel had actually beefed up my application," Katherine stated.

"I have been asked about my gap year in every job interview I have had, often by avid travellers eager to know if we had been to the same destinations."

She had been worried about continuing with education straight away after a testing four years on her degree program, fearing burn out.

"The idea of a gap year - a year off after graduating before continuing with school or the real world of the workforce - had been sitting impatiently in the corner of my mind since I began my undergrad," Katherine told the news provider.

The realisation that this could be the only opportunity she ever had to travel pressure-free was the main factor in her decision, she noted.

"It's not for everyone and, as with everything in life, there is never a guarantee that it will work out as well for someone else," Katherine added.

"I finally understood that great rewards are always worth the risk. And I never would have learned that in the classroom."

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