A Gap Year | Part 2: Decisions

Hi everybody :)
A month ago I posted my first 'Gap Year' post. In this post it is pretty clear that I was not sure of anything at that moment, and that I felt like a failure because of this. As I was writing it, I was not planning on making another post about my year until next year, but I figured I wanted people to be able to read about what I am going through because it might help them!



A month later, the tables have turned and I have found what I will be devoting my time to. Or where. I am going to be flying to Australia in the beginning of 2014, and will be spending around 10 months living in a host family and going to High School.
Starting from the top! I have always wanted to go out of my little country when I was done with school, but I never thought I would get the money together to actually go.

I cancelled the course I had applied for, and they were shocked when I told them I was going to take a year off. Everybody was when I told them, my family, teachers, co-workers and even some of my friends. 'You're wasting your life', 'It doesn't help your future', 'you'll be a year older when you start school, so a year older when you're done. No company wants you if you're old'. Or 'Why would you want to leave the country, we have everything a person needs and wants' were some of the things that were said to me.

And yes, there is a truth in all of them. I will be older, but wiser and I will know what I want to study and do with my life. It does help my future because I will become more independent and have 'international experience' (which a lot of companies want).

Anyways, after letting everybody know and getting used to the idea, I started on my list... and didn't really go that far :)
The first thing on my list: Leaving. My first choice was America, but I figured 'If you leave, you have to really leave'. America is far, yes, but you can fly back in 10 hours. Australia? 2 days. And I want to know what is happening on the other side of the world!

So I found an organization. They had a lot of information on their website and I was able to chat with them if I had other questions. I really liked them! And it got me excited to leave :)

I was getting used to the idea of leaving home and going to Australia. My dad, on the other hand, was not. He had to think about it (and the price-tag) for a few weeks longer. I had told him I wanted to go to High School there, to figure out what I wanted, but also to stay in school. He found it was no use...

A few weeks later, two weeks ago, he agreed. I WAS ALLOWED TO GO. For a whole year, to Australia, to go to High School. I could now dive into the applying process :) A day later I had applied and sent everything in. (this was on a Sunday) Monday, my spirit was pulled down when I received a phone call from the organization, telling me they couldn't let me go because there was no spot available. There were other options: New Zealand, or going for 5 months (but going on the waiting-list, still not being sure to leave).

I sat down with my parents, and we decided to look for another organization. Meanwhile, they were going to ask their partner if there was a way to still let me go.
We found a new organization, and they had a place available. I applied for their program, but was still hoping the first organization would be able to let me go.

Ever since applying for the second time, I am sure of going to Australia. The organization I would be going with was yet to be decided.

We didn't hear back from the first until this Tuesday. They unfortunately were not able to let me go. Meaning I will be leaving with the second. (Or being put on the list and not knowing if I would end up leaving. The decision here was not really hard).

Either way, this doesn't make me any less excited, and it's all I really think and talk about! (I am leaving for a two week vacation this Sunday, but am already planning my Australia trip) I am so happy that in the end, I am going. Because I was quite scared this wouldn't work out when I got the call on Monday. Thankfully, I will be leaving and am already planning and reading tips and tricks from other students.

I hope you enjoyed it and I will keep you guys updated :) If you are in the same boat as I was a month ago: try to talk to someone and think about what you want to do. It will help, more than those tests on the internet. And look around, what other people in your family or at your school are going to study or plan on doing! You can also ask me if you need someone to talk to :)

Love, Danielle <3