A Gap Away

05/23/2022

Just one more reason I love being a gap year consultant! I have the privilege of serving as ambassador to the GYA Board. It’s exciting to be a part of a growing movement that has the power to change the course of individual lives, but also impacts society as a whole. An intentionally planned gap year matters and has ripple effects through life and community.

Sandy Storer has professional experience as a family therapist, school social worker, transition specialist, and pre-college coach. Through these experiences, she has an extensive history of helping young adults find, and flourish, on their path. She is passionate about the gap year option because she's personally and professionally seen how meaningful time off the beaten-path can be.

Sandy values serving on the GYA board because it gives her the opportunity to work with others dedicated to growing the gap year movement. "There is collective resolve to our purpose that is inspirational and brings promise to the work we do."

To young adults considering their future path, Sandy says, "A gap year is calling, it is not spam, and it likely won’t come again, so take a moment to answer the call; self-discovery awaits."

03/05/2022

If you haven't had a family chat about the gap year option - why not? It is so easy to just follow the path most students and families are on - it makes sense as society today still tells us there is some kind of rush. But the pandemic has changed things some, students are under more stress than ever, and priorities are shifting across generations. Consider the value and empowerment that would come from an intentional year of personal, practical, and professional activities!

College Fair Have you talked with your child about a gap year? Here’s why you might want to. Nina spent her gap year building workplace skills through a progressive series of jobs and internships. She built confidence and independence skills by practicing longer stretches of time alone on road tri...

02/13/2022

What would bring Sandy Storer] back to posting on social media? And, what’s got A Gap Away student, Ava, so exuberant in the big sky of Montana?! Gap Year Exploration Month - of course! February is chock full of opportunities to learn more about the gap year, and even win some prizes too! Follow and to stay on top of it all!
Of course you can also reach out to Sandy Storer] for 1:1 consults as well. I’m still here coaching students like Ava on how to plan their own meaningful gap year! Ava has been building her bank account and work life skills, traveling independently to see people and places that bring her joy, studying neuroscience online to test the waters, and is about to start a biological sciences laboratory internship. All together she’s put together a year of growth that’s preparing her to enter college with more personal and professional confidence! What would your meaningful gap year look like?

07/22/2021

I’d be interested in hearing what role your guidance counselor plays in helping you consider a gap year. Does this article ring true for you? I’ve heard the full spectrum of support stories. Remember there are gap year specialists, like A Gap Away, and a consult might help you sort through your options best.

Guidance Counselors Should Reconsider the Gap Year By Robin Pendoley Ed.M, originally published on the Psychology Today website, and re-published here with permission from the author.It happened again yesterday. A mother of a gap year student shared — raved, actually — about how important the e

04/25/2021

What’s it like to hike solo? Yesterday I met up with Nina and we compared notes. She’s using her time to practice longer periods of time alone in the outdoors, in further distances from familiar places. She’s building confidence, and catching the bug. What a joy to see! Swipe to see someone who caught the bug long ago!

04/09/2021

How heavy is your load? Have you been churning your way through high school and wondering when you’ll get a chance to destress and look around? If a weekend or summer won’t do it for you, consider a gap year. Rejuvenation, inspiration, and re-focusing are key takeaways from gap time that can help you leverage your college experience even more.

04/06/2021

Happy National Student Athlete Day! In honor of all of your hard work and dedication I’d like to debunk a myth you may have heard! You too can take a gap year, even if you want to continue your sport in college. Many student athletes assume the college coach won’t grant a deferral, but more say yes than you might think. Planning a gap year that keeps you on your game is challenging, but you wouldn’t be a student athlete if you didn’t know what to do with a challenge! This year athletes from diving, basketball, and track are having it both ways. You can too! Need ideas and coaching? Touch base with Sandy for a complimentary session! Link in bio.

03/15/2021

A symbol for our times - and the power of a gap year. For the Maori people the koru symbol, inspired by the unfurling of a fern, represents new beginnings and life to come. Aren’t we all ready for that?

Let your gap year be your koru. Gap time will allow your full self, away from everyday expectations and influences, to unfurl and will bring new energy and focus for the next stage of your life. Touch base for a complimentary consult and gap year resources. Link in bio.

02/26/2021

This is so true. I’ve worked with mid and post-college gappers in addition to the traditional recent high school graduate. I’ve also had the pleasure of planning adult and family gap years, including my own! What are you waiting for?!

02/22/2021

Happy Study Abroad Day! The world is full of teachers... What do you want to learn? Do you want to experience what you learn, while you’re learning it? Maybe a gap year is for you!

02/16/2021

Winter morning surprise while cleaning off my car. Hoping you have a magical moment today too!

02/11/2021

Choosing a gap year requires shifting your focus. It’s a time to focus on who you are outside of the classroom, away from family or social pressures, and listen to your true self. Who knows what you’ll see through that lens, but what you discover will be a meaningful foundation for your next steps to college or career.