Why Life Coaching Is Essential During A Gap Year

Is a Gap Year Right for Your Young Adult?

As your child approaches the end of high school, the question of what comes next looms large. For some, diving straight into college or a career feels like the natural next step. For others, taking a gap year—a year-long break from traditional education—might be the perfect opportunity for growth and self-discovery. 

But how do you know if it’s the right choice for your child? Let's explore key factors to consider.

1. Does Your Child Feel Burnt Out?

After years of intense academic and athletic pressure, many kids feel mentally and emotionally drained. A gap year can provide a much-needed pause to regroup, reflect, and reignite their passion for learning. If your child seems disengaged, undecided, or anxious about continuing their educational journey immediately, a gap year could help them approach the next chapter with fresh energy and massive clarity.

2. Are They Unsure About Their Future?

Not every young adult knows what they want to study in college or what career they want to pursue, the truth is that most kids don't know this at 17 or 18 years old!  A gap year can be an excellent time to explore interests and curiosities, and connect with their passions and inner world through travel, internships, volunteer work, or a life coaching program. Gaining real-world experience and learning about themselves on a deeper level can help them create a clear vision for their future, often avoiding changing majors multiple times!

3. Does Your Child Need to Build Independence?

A gap year often requires young adults to step out of their comfort zones and make decisions independently. This experience can help them develop maturity, confidence, a sense of responsibility, and an opportunity to identify and connect with their values, strengths, and passions through being out in the world. If your child could benefit from growing their independence, a gap year might be an ideal choice.

My Experience

When I was a young teenager I started getting noticed by people in the modeling industry. It appealed to me and I saw the excitement and benefits of pursuing this career path, and I was fortunate that my mom supported this opportunity. Going to college wasn't talked about much as I approached my senior year, as my career was taking off and my near future was predetermined. So while all my friends were off to college, I moved to New York City the June I graduated, and quickly off to Europe after that. 

As you can imagine the fashion world can be extremely glamorous and fast paced, and it can be very dark, lonely, and challenging for a young girl to navigate mostly on her own. I definitely went through some tough times during those years, but they all led me to my path of personal growth and a spiritual foundation in my early twenties, a path that became my passion has defined my life ever since. When I finally did go to college at 25 I was very clear that I wanted to study Psychology & Human Development, and eventually found my way to Life Coaching and Entrepreneurship. 

For me it wasn't necessarily a gap year, yet the years I spent pursuing my career, out in the world traveling, meeting new people, building relicense and independence, and discovering my strengths and passions through real world experience - this helped my find my purpose.

This is why I feel strongly that kids who choose a gap year or another path all together should most definitely consider a life coaching program during that time - Extraordinary Purpose for Young Adults was build for exactly this kind of self-discovery for young people, and designed around much of the inner work I explored myself as a young adult.

4 Reasons Why Life Coaching is Essential During a Gap Year After High School, or Pursing Other Endeavors

A gap year after high school can be a golden opportunity for young adults to step back, evaluate their goals, and prepare for the next phase of life. However, navigating this unstructured time can be overwhelming, and left to their own devices many kids will fall into unhealthy behaviors, habits, self-talk, and self-sabotage in some way. Life coaching offers mentorship, accountability, self-discovery, and support young adults need to make the most of this transformative year. Here are five compelling reasons why life coaching is invaluable during a gap year.

1. Clarifying Goals and Vision

Many young adults enter a gap year uncertain about their future—whether it’s choosing a college major, career path, or personal aspirations. Life coaching helps them gain clarity by identifying their strengths, interests, passions, and values. We work with our clients helping them cultivate a clear vision for their future, based on what they are learning about themselves and what's authentically important to them. Read more here on how life coaching can help young adults find their Purpose.  

2. Building Confidence and Independence

The transition from high school to adulthood can be daunting. A life coach serves as a mentor, empowering young adults to take ownership of their decisions and actions. This guidance fosters self-confidence and independence, equipping kids to face challenges with resilience and determination. Read more here on how we help young adults develop strong inner-confidence!

3. Developing Essential Life Skills

A gap year is an ideal time to focus on critical life skills, such as time management, communication, problem-solving, financial literacy, and relationships & communication skills. Life coaching provides practical strategies and tools to help young adults master these skills, ensuring they are better prepared for academic and professional environments, life situations, and relationships.

4. Navigating Emotional Well-being

The gap year can be an emotional rollercoaster as young adults grapple with uncertainty and transition. Life coaching offers a safe space to explore emotions, manage stress and distractions, and build emotional resilience. By addressing mental well-being, young adults can approach their gap year with a positive and balanced mindset, and inner confidence.

Conclusion

Life coaching during a gap year is an investment in a young adult’s future. It provides the structure, support, and tools needed to turn a year of uncertainty into a year of growth, self-discovery, and purpose. Whether it’s clarifying goals, building confidence, or developing life skills, life coaching helps young adults emerge from their gap year more focused, capable, and ready to take on the world.

Here at Extraordinary Purpose For Teens & Young Adults we have coached and supported hundreds of young adults who decided on a gap year after high school, who chose to work for a while before college, and even some who chose an entrepreneurial path and started their own businesses. It's not just a life coaching program, it becomes a lifelong journey of personal growth.

We would love to help your young adult discover who they are, what's truly important to them, and create a clear and exciting vision for their future, before making the massive decision and investment of college, before they're ready.