When Nazra Noushad asked herself who she wanted to be in 10 years, she determined a gap year would help her become that person. In this episode, Nazra shares why and how she chose to take a gap year, how she told her mother, the opportunities she had…
Every kid is different and so is their journey. Not everyone is meant to pursue post-secondary education right after highschool; a gap year could be the best decision you ever help your kids make. Take Mary Boynton’s experience for example, she is the…
A gap year goes beyond the backpackers you see on Instagram travelling the world. It takes guts to step away from a “normal” path, but you will be that much closer to your goals by doing so. In this episode, I define the reality of a gap year vs. the…
Kayne Boyall is a Climate Champion, passionate about the environment and speaks to us all about how to take action. He talks about climate action, sustainability and some ways you can make your gap year more Earth-friendly. He shares about how he…
Knowing you are on the right path is one thing… Taking action to correct your course and find your true purpose is another all together! This episode was recorded pre-COVID but Rachel’s experience of leaving University after less than a month is…
Sam Demma is a 20-year-old gap year alum and motivational speaker, podcast host of the High Performing Student and entrepreneur. Sam will be sharing his full story along with some tips and ticks for making an impact on your very own gap year at Gap…
Azmain is taking a gap year starting in September 2020. He just graduated from high school in Calgary, Alberta and decided that taking a year off was the best decision for him. He speaks candidly about making the decision, what he plans on doing and…
Many gappers want to volunteer on their gap year or feel like they should volunteer. Volunteering is a powerful way to use your gifts and talents in new ways, to build your experience and your resume and to find a sense of purpose. Lily shares how to…
We are in the final countdown before school starts. In previous years there was excitement and preparation, but many families this year are still in the uncomfortable and unwelcome position of deciding on next year’s plans – to go or not to go back…
As futurist and host of Tilt the Future Podcast, Karena current observes trends and signs in the world around us in order to see what the possible futures might look like. She doesn’t predict the future but rather uses current data to imagine what…
Deciding to take a gap year or not is no small decision. CanGap has been supporting families all throughout COVID and I wanted to share some of the common things that families should be considering as they make this choice. We have heard these thigns…
There is so much going on right now that it can feel overwhelming.The weight of realizing how much help the world needs can feel very heavy. There’s no denying that. But it’s also inspiring. People across the world are coming together to march. More…
With the deadline for accepting post-secondary admissions getting closer, families are becoming more stressed about what the right decision is for fall 2020. In this episode I share the red flags that pop up in conversations with families that show…
Story Time: Max Brauch started back at Concordia University in the fall of 2020 after his gap year that was built on getting experience, earning money, networking and building relationships and a bit of travel. He speaks about how he got clarity for…
Right now families are coming closer to the deadline for making post-secondary decisions but most are lacking critical information as to what the post-secondary experience will actually be. Yes, there will be classes and profs and learning but will it…
By now, we are all tired of hearing about COVID-19. We’re all wishing we could go back to normal, forget this ever happened and get on with our lives. While this is true for everybody, wishing to get past this, the feelings of wanting to just forget…
Because of COVID-19, everybody is experiencing some level of trauma. It might sound scary – trauma is a big word, and something we don’t often talk about. But with everything that’s happening right now, it’s important to discuss it and how it may…
Tim Tamashiro’s Ikigai is “to delight” – it is the reason he gets out of bed every morning and he wants you to live a life knowing your own Ikigai. But what is an Ikigai? Our next podcast guest will tell you all about it!Tim is the author of the…
James spent his gap year working in hospitality and retail while taking the time to shift his focus into finding a pathway forward. He shares how his high school self wasn’t serious about academics and how his gap year helped him to mature, made him…
Gap Years aren’t all about travel. Despite what Instagram and media coverage of a-list celebrities and royalty might tell you, most Canadians don’t spend their entire gap year traveling. They will usually spend between 2 weeks and 3 months…
COVID19, also known as the coronavirus, took over the world in March 2020, and because of it, many gappers have had to cancel or change their travel plans unexpectedly. While it may be the responsible thing to do for many reasons – for personal safety…
After being removed from it for a little bit of time, we can forget how many major stressors and transitions happen in the late teenage years. Beyond just the physical and hormonal growth, there are huge social changes that come with the transition…
I love to talk about this topic because it is one that keeps parents and teens up at night.Parents often approach me saying “my kid isn’t mature enough”, “they aren’t going to be ready” or “they just need some more time”. Students say similar things…
Lynn Trevesan is a mother of two girls, now 18 and 15 years old. But when her oldest daughter was reaching the end of high school, Lynne noticed that she wasn’t quite ready for post-secondary, despite being mature for her age and identified as a…
While you’re probably looking forward to what your gap year has in store, there’s probably still some nerves about things you don’t know yet. Will you get into my university program after my gap year? Do you have the skills to travel? Is it going to…
Everywhere I go, I hear incredible stories about gap years. Whenever I’m at different fairs or conferences, people come up to me to tell me how great their gap year was. I can’t count the amount of times I hear, “I took a gap year, and it was the…