Although enrolling in college immediately upon graduating from high school is still the choice that a vast majority of students make, it seems as if there are an increasing number of alternatives.

One such alternative is taking a gap year.

Gap Years for Teens

Gap years, while the focus can vary greatly, give graduating seniors the opportunity to push the pause button on their curricular academic education. Most students use this time to travel, volunteer, or work abroad, although others may choose to remain in their home communities and work or spend time defining their interests before beginning university study.

Travel Gap Year Programs

There are many reasons that students take gap years. They may want to travel extensively before beginning school, or they may have interests in another area of the world and want to experience life there. International experience has become increasingly valued on resumes, and with graduate schools and entry-level jobs becoming more competitive, students may view gap year experiences as a way to get a leg up when it comes time to apply for opportunities after graduation.

Students may also feel “burnt out” after high school, and want to take a break before embarking on an even more challenging college degree. Or, they could view the opportunity as a time to volunteer or participate in humanitarian efforts while they have the time and flexibility to do so.

Taking a gap year is not the only option, however, for teenagers who want to gain international experience, travel, or volunteer. There are also several reputable summer programs for high school students that offer similar experiences, without the commitment of an entire year away from school or the cost of traveling abroad for an entire year.

International Summer Programs for Teens

Global Leadership Adventures, which operates international service-learning programs for teenagers in 12 countries, is one such organization. GLA programs allow students to experience life in a developing country, giving back to the community through meaningful service projects and immersing themselves in a new culture, without the commitment of being abroad for an entire year. These programs range in length from 10 days to 8 weeks, and can add international experience to a resume without having to pause before beginning university.

In fact, students can participate in summer programs as early as freshman year in high school, making it easy to find the time to include this type of experience, during breaks from formal schooling. They’ll also have the chance to connect with other students their age who have similar interests, which doesn’t always happen when you’re traveling solo on a gap year.

Enhancing World Views & Perspective for Teenagers

International experience is incredibly valuable in providing an enhanced world view and perspective, regardless of whether it is gained through a gap year, study abroad experience, or summer volunteer program. For students who want a challenging, rewarding and eye-opening experience during their summer breaks, though, Global Leadership Adventures programs are an excellent option.

Learn more about Global Leadership Adventures

Teen Leadership With African Roots

Although Global Leadership Adventures is headquartered in San Diego, California, we always say that our roots are in Africa.

This is where our founder, Fred Swaniker, grew up, and where he still resides. It is also where our first programs were launched, and where we grew from a small African summer program to a global network of 23 service-learning programs in 12 different countries.

These days, Fred is better known as the Founder and CEO of the African Leadership Academy- an incredibly competitive school of leadership based in Johannesburg, South Africa- and one that draws the best and brightest students from across the continent and prepares them to lead the next generation of African change makers!

Building a Stronger, More Sustainable Africa

Fred’s dream of helping to build a stronger, more sustainable Africa, where young leaders have the skills to serve their communities, start businesses, and create opportunities, was a bright one. He pursued his MBA at Stanford University, and when he returned to Africa he was armed with an idea and the tenacity to make it happen. In 2008, the African Leadership Academy opened its doors. Only 97 of the over 1,700 applicants were accepted in the first class, which made the program more competitive than either Stanford or Harvard. It was then that Swaniker became fully aware of the need for this type of educational opportunity in Africa.

And he hasn’t looked back since.

Helping Students Realize Their Full Potential

During this time, Swaniker partnered with Global Leadership Adventures Executive Director Andrew Motiwalla, and together they realized the full potential for students from across the globe to experience the same type of leadership that the ALA offered. Instead, however, these students would do so on their summer vacations from school, and these transformations would happen on carefully structured programs in developing countries all over the world!

The inspiring vision that Swaniker brought to the ALA has also shaped Global Leadership Adventures, for which he still serves on the Board of Directors. The mission of GLA is “To inspire the next generation to realize their potential to transform the world and their role in it.” Offering “A Life-Changing Experience,” GLA students develop leadership skills, open their eyes to new possibilities; unlock their passion and learn about their role in the world.

Inspiring Stories from Teens Volunteering Abroad

GLA students are not falling short, either. Alumni of GLA programs have gone on to contribute amazing things to the community they visited with GLA, as well as their home communities. Learn more about the amazing things GLA alumni are doing.

We’ve heard time and time again that volunteer experience is great for teenagers.

It teaches them responsibility, the value of hard work, and highlights the incredible impact that we can have on the lives of others. Volunteering also, as we know, is a great way to boost self-esteem, because it feels great to help others.

Benefits of Mission Trips for Students

In an increasingly global society, volunteering internationally is also growing in popularity, among both adults and teenagers. Most individuals travel with an established organization, as a member of a group- and the majority of these programs are affiliated with a religious organization.

For many families who aren’t religious, or who don’t practice regularly, however, these trips can be alienating. The volunteer work is still valuable, but the additional activities on the program may not be what everyone is looking for.

Volunteer Opportunities for those looking for a Non-Religious Mission Trip

Fortunately, there are great options and opportunities for volunteering in a developing country without any religious affiliation. These types of programs, such as those operated by Global Leadership Adventures, focus on meaningful service work and pair cultural activities and adventures alongside volunteering.

These programs give teenagers the chance to make a difference, while allowing them to experience what life is like in another country- and they are open to students of all faiths and backgrounds.

Anytime you can experience the richness of cultures different from your own — by talking with people of other nationalities, travelling internationally, trying foods from other countries and embracing other educational experiences that fall outside of your comfort zone — you grow and change in positive ways. And this is just the kind of personal development that can help you stand out in the eyes of college admissions counselors and future employers in a competitive field of other strong candidates.

For those who can physically get away, international travel, cultural immersion programs and volunteer abroad service programs offer unparalleled exposure to the customs, language and everyday life of diverse communities. This experience is imperative for anyone who’s serious about pursuing public service or global relations work as part of a business or political career.

Specifically, here are five ways educational travel can improve your life:

• Sharpens self-awareness: Gathering firsthand information about the world — seeing different landscapes, experiencing the challenges of certain cultures, listening to the opinions of people in other nations — provides a level of mindfulness that’s often tough to shake. Profound experiences give people a sense of place and purpose, and they establish lifelong values and priorities.

• Enhances perspective: Exposure to the problems and perks of other lifestyles helps people break out of cultural-centric thinking. Having a broad awareness of how other people live and what other cultures prioritize can trigger solutions and ideas that don’t necessarily rely on familiar habits and comforts. Cultural immersion through travel and service programs can also help break down language barriers and open new channels of lifelong communication.

• Fosters independence: Living and working for any amount of time in a culture that’s different from home can help prepare students for college in ways more profound than any sleep-away camp or vacation can. This enriching experience challenges students to open their minds regarding food, friends and basic needs. After all, it’s tougher to take things for granted in unfamiliar situations.

• Strengthens leadership skills: A person who’s been there and done that simply has more credibility than those who rely on lip service. Instead of relying on others’ opinions, travelers establish perspective, confidence and conviction that make it easier to gain the respect of others. Plus, international travel, especially with a group or through a program, provides students with a global network of contacts and references.

• Demonstrates courage: Travelling away from the comfort of friends, family and familiar surroundings is tough. But doing it shows that a person is interested enough in the rest of the world, and confident enough in him- or herself to venture out and discover other parts of the world. This is a character trait that’s very appealing to colleges and employers.

No matter what your life goals are, travel can provide important perspectives and help you discover what really makes you tick. Explore high school volunteer abroad programs and find out how international travel can make a real difference in your life.