The Gap Year Podcast
 

The Gap Year Podcast

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Explore all things gap year through stories and anecdotes by gappers, families and experts. Fun to listen to but also jam-packed with tips and tricks for making the most of your gap year. No matter who you are or where you are on your gap year journey, you should be listening to the Gap Year Podcast! Although it is produced for Canadians, the content is universal.

Episodes

Why Travel and Experiential Programs are Critical in 2023 with Carpe Diem’s ED, Adam

Friday May 19, 2023

Friday May 19, 2023

In today’s episode, we had the wonderful opportunity to speak with Carpe Diem’s ED, Adam! Such a kindred spirit who shares his experience with travel and experiential programs. 

Together, Michelle and Adam dive deep into the key skills that youth are missing whether that’s because of gaps created from the pandemic or the pressures of family and society. Exploring how experiential experiences play a valuable role in rebuilding these skills and putting your young person one step closer to finding their values, passions and interests. 

Take a listen! 

Topics Discussed

  • Learn more about Carpe Diem’s and Global Routes Programs
  • Benefits of Gap Years, Experiential Learning and Travel
  • The importance of self-exploration and finding your values, interests and passions. 

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

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The 3 Most Challenging Times of Year for Gappers

Friday May 05, 2023

Friday May 05, 2023

Taking a gap year can be a roller coaster of emotion and experiences. It's full of highs and lows, and each experience gives the gapper so many opportunities to learn and grow.

In today’s episode, Michelle explores the 3 key times during the gap year process where gappers really struggle, when you can expect to have these challenges, what you can do to reduce the strain along with sharing a ton of amazing CanGap resources that will support your young person! 

Take a listen! 

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Unserious Careers - How taking time to figure it out pays off in health, happiness and success

Friday Apr 14, 2023

Friday Apr 14, 2023

What comes to mind when you hear the word Career? Does it evoke feelings of fear, anxiousness or overwhelm? Do you perceive it as a one time decision and then you’re locked in for the next 40, 50 maybe even 60 years?! Well, what if we told you that careers don’t have to be so serious, in fact unserious careers will actually lead you to become  healthier, happier and a more successful version of yourself.

 

On today’s episode we invited the lovely Alana Kilmartin, author of “Unserious Careers” who dives deep into the importance of self-exploration and experiential learning. Reflecting on her own career journey and how gap years were instrumental in helping her discover her true passions, take a listen! 

 

Topics Discussed

  • Alana’s personal journey of writing her book, Unserious Careers.
  • The importance of having transparent conversations with parents/guardians around expectations (which oftentimes may be different than what you think!) 
  • The reality of today is that career paths are not linear, and while this may seem daunting - it’s a beautiful opportunity for people to explore a variety of their interests. 
  • Always progressing to the “next step” will not necessarily move your career in the right direction, instead getting clarity about what you actually want to do will accelerate you to where you want to go.
  • The difference between taking a year off and and taking a gap year - how can you make the most of this time.

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

  • Check out Alana’s Book “Unserious Careers” https://www.unseriouscareers.com/

 

Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

 

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Talking to your Teen about Taking a Gap Year

Friday Mar 31, 2023

Friday Mar 31, 2023

Most parents would think that if they offered their teenager an opportunity to take a gap year, they would say yes in a heartbeat! Imagine all of the exciting adventures, learning opportunities and the ability to earn some extra money - what's not to love! Well, to your surprise, some teenagers are actually reluctant to take a gap year, even if they may not be 100% ready for higher education. 

Today’s episode is jam packed with tons of great advice from Michelle! We dive straight into the top 3 reasons why your teen may be opposed to taking a gap year, what post-secondary readiness looks like, plus a walkthrough of how you can approach this conversation to get your teen on board! 

Take a listen! 

Topics Discussed

  • What are parents reaching out and talking to CanGap about?
  • The top 3 reasons why teenagers are hesitant to take a gap year (some of these may surprise you!) 
  • How to have productive conversations with your young person that will encourage them to think about pursuing a gap year. 
  • The 6 factors of post-secondary readiness - and having your teen use this as a benchmark to assess whether they are ready for higher education. 
  • Action steps to take to make them feel confident about pursuing a gap year. 

 

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

 

Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

 

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What skill deficits exist for teens in 2023 - Jay Gosselin and Michelle Dittmer share their observations

Friday Mar 03, 2023

Friday Mar 03, 2023

In today’s episode we invite the fabulous Jay Gosselin from Discover Year, a certified Canadian post-secondary program that fosters confidence, resilience and equips students with the skills they need to succeed in their transition from adolescence into adulthood through their one-year life skills program. 

We all know the pandemic was a rocky time for everyone, but Michelle and Jay unpack the many areas where youth were impacted and ultimately the skills deficits resulting from this.  They also dive deeper into how gap years are the perfect way to build on these skills to help young people get back on track! 

Take a listen! 

Topics Discussed

  • The major setbacks and obstacles faced by youth including social and mental health issues. 
  • How such issues have become barriers for youth to make an effective transitions from adolescence to young adulthood
  • The challenges with having difficult conversations with your young person and CanGap resources that you can tap into. 
  • How discover year through experiential learning and exceptional mentor support helps the development of critical soft skills that students are missing 

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

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Fear is running your kids life and what you can do about it

Friday Feb 17, 2023

Friday Feb 17, 2023

Do you ever wonder what’s holding your young person back from applying for that job, trying out for the sports team or even asking that person out? 

Well, in today’s episode, Michelle unpacks this powerful underlying emotion of fear. She walks us through how and why fear overwhelms teenagers when they are faced with making decisions. 

As always, Michelle shares real-life tips on how to have the proper conversation with your teenager on overcoming their fear, and provides insight on how to make this effective on your young person. Take a listen! 

 

Topics Discussed

  • The powerful emotion of fear and its impact on your teens performance. 
  • Why are teenagers feeling so overwhelmed and nervous about their future? 
  • Understanding concepts of rejection and uncertainty, and how they factor in on your young person’s decision making.
  • Identifying fear in terms of its 3 zone zones, comfort, challenge and overwhelm and tips to navigate through these. 
  • Advice and resources on how to lead conversations about overcoming fears with you teen
  • How to support and show up for your young person during this transitional stage of their life.  

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

 

  • Gap Year Coaching 

Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

 

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The Top 3 Parental Concerns about taking a Gap Year

Friday Dec 30, 2022

Friday Dec 30, 2022

We asked parents about their biggest concerns with their young person taking a gap year, and across the board their top 3 answers were: 

  1. My teen will waste their time.
  2. Various financial concerns. 
  3. My teen will face loneliness and isolation. 

Want to know who else had the same exact concerns? Gappers! 

As parents, it’s important to recognize that things that are concerning you are also concerning your young person. So, in this episode, Michelle, gap year and parenting expert,walks through how to bridge this communication gap and allow parents and gappers to work together to curate a gap year plan that will serve and benefit them. 

This episode is packed with tons of valuable planning and financial resources that you can tap into to help support you and your young person through this exhilarating gap year journey! 

Step into 2023 equipped with all of the advice and resources you need to help your teen pursue a successful gap year! 

And, don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE, you don’t want to miss out on all of the amazing tips and advice brought to you by our gap year experts! 

Topics Discussed

  • What are the top 3 concerns for parents and gappers? 
  • The value of creating a gap year plan in collaboration with your teen and resources that will support this.
  • The importance of setting expectations before a gap year, and what some expectations may look like. 
  • Exploring the fact that Gap Years are an investment in your young person’s life (just like post-secondary education!) along with what are programs that you should invest in. 
  • Unpacking the Money Freedom Paradox and the benefits for teens to be working more full-time positions
  • Resources to tap into to prevent your gapper from being isolated during their gap year
  • Exciting program launching for PARENTS that you do not want to miss out on! 

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

 

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Teen Behaviour: The brain science behind why parents and teens butt heads and how to support them in their transition to adulthood

Friday Dec 23, 2022

Friday Dec 23, 2022

As a parent you always want the best for your teen, but sometimes it’s hard to see eye to eye on what the “best” is with your young person. If you want to better understand why your teen thinks and makes the decisions they do, along with why this particular stage of life is so challenging, then you do not want to miss this episode! 

Michelle dives deep into the science behind it all and connects the dots between your teens actions and the support they need at this stage of life. This episode is packed with valuable information that will help you understand your young person and be able to better support them through this exciting yet uncomfortable transition from adolescence into adulthood. 

Take a listen! 

Topics Discussed

  • The science behind an adolescent’s brain development, when do our teens actually become adults?
  • Dealing with your young person’s risk taking behaviour and impulsive decision making, and how these actions are beneficial to the growth of your teen. 
  • Why gap years are incredibly formative for teenagers, especially at this age and stage of life. 
  • Things that your young person will turn to you for, and how you can show up for them and support them in the most impactful way. 
  • Tapping into the programs and coaching CanGap offers to help support you and young people through this exhilarating gap year journey! 

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

 

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How to use ScholarshipsCanada and SchoolFinder to plan your post-secondary journey post gap year

Friday Dec 02, 2022

Friday Dec 02, 2022

Imagine if there was a website that would match you to the perfect post-secondary institution, program, scholarships and career path that is just right for you! Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? 

Well, you’re in luck because in today’s episode we invited the amazing Logan Bright from SchoolFinder and Scholarships Canada who walks us through how students can utilise these phenomenal resources to take the stress off of post-secondary research and help them effectively find the most relevant information. 

And, to all the gappers tuning in, Logan actually took a gap year himself! He spent his time dedicated to gaining work experience, personal growth and even filming and starring in his own movie! 

Tune in, you don’t want to miss out on this one! 

Topics Discussed

  • Meet Logan Bright from SchoolFinder and ScholarshipCanada and learn about how you can be matched with your perfect post-secondary school, programs, scholarships and career path.
  • The amazing features of SchoolFinder and how it will help you explore post-secondary options you were not aware of before.
  • Learn about Logan’s transformative gap year and how that impacted the trajectory of his career.
  • Understanding that career paths are not linear (and that is okay!) and how to best embrace that change. 
  • How to leverage your gap year to craft the most compelling scholarships apps and successfully fund your post-secondary education. 

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

Read more

How to Win Scholarships - Leveraging your gap year to fund your university tuition

Friday Nov 18, 2022

Friday Nov 18, 2022

We all know post-secondary education is very expensive and a huge financial burden that students have to carry. Thank goodness for scholarships!. However, looking for scholarships, writing  beautifully crafted applications and effectively communicating your skills can be challenging! But don’t worry, in today’s episode we invited scholarship expert Janet MacDonald from MyCampusGPS, who shares her incredible insight on the scholarship process and how you can be a successful candidate. 

Janet and Michelle also dive further to unpack the greater value besides the money and how scholarships can become a tool you can leverage to make you a better job candidate and land those dream positions. 

Topics Discussed

  • Meet Janet MacDonald from MyCampusGPS and learn about the helpful resources she provides students. 
  • Looking beyond the money, how will scholarships help you stand out among other job candidates. 
  • How gappers can leverage their time and experiences of their gap year when it comes to the scholarship process. 
  • What skills funders look for when reading scholarship applications. 
  • How taking on a leadership role will help you develop the necessary skills and qualities that can be applied to applications, but more importantly your own experiences. 

Resources Mentioned In This Episode

Connect With The Canadian Gap Year Association

 

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