No matter where you’re from, it’s common to feel burnt out after graduating high school, or even during university. If you’re tired of formal schooling, you might be looking to try something else! But at the same time, it’s important to set yourself up for a successful future. Many people are afraid that if they take too much time off, they’ll never end up getting back on the right career path. Luckily, there’s a solution: taking a gap year.
A gap year is a fantastic way to continue learning about yourself and the world while taking a much-needed break from the classroom setting. Depending on what you do with your gap year, you can grow personally and professionally as you explore a new corner of the world and meet people from other cultures. Working and living abroad in a foreign country for a year also gives you a mental break before you dive back into your studies. That said, a gap year isn’t just a year-long vacation! Rather, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to learn in a completely new way.
Instead of reading about faraway places and people in your textbooks, you’ll be able to learn about those cultures by living like a local. You’ll also have the chance to improve your foreign language skills by spending an extended amount of time in a country where you’re a non-native speaker. And developing your language skills abroad is a key skill that employers look for when hiring—because it shows that you’re adaptable, multi-faceted, and brave.
What’s more, there are so many ways to take a gap year abroad—whether it’s working odd jobs, teaching English, or even volunteering. But for anyone who wants to travel, learn, and grow while setting themselves up for success, being an au pair in the USA is the absolute best path!
As an au pair, you get to spend a full year (or even more, if you choose to extend) working and living abroad on a J-1 cultural exchange visa. During this time, you’ll stay with an American host family and care for their children. In return, you’ll have ample opportunity to take classes at an American college or university, make new friends, discover new passions, and explore the USA. 
In other words, it’s all the best parts of a gap year in one program! As an au pair, you’ll make global connections by working and studying with Americans—giving you the chance to grow your professional network. You’ll also develop transferrable skills that can give you an edge in the hiring process once you do return home.
A gap year as an au pair will also allow you space to learn new things about yourself and decide what the next chapter of your life might look like. By pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, you’re proving to yourself that you’re capable of anything. Best of all, the USA is an enormous country so choosing to spend a gap year or two in America as an au pair means there will be endless opportunities to travel and explore. You can see mountains, oceans, lakes, national parks, forests, major cities, small towns, beaches, boardwalks, statues, skyscrapers, and more!
If you’re feeling unsure of your next steps—or like you simply need a break from routine—then a gap year could be the key to developing yourself and gaining international work experience. In fact, it might just be the best decision of your life.