Choosing to travel during college will enable you to develop as an individual and also professionally. So if you’re thinking of doing a gap year, this could be your opportunity to grow.
You will find that an adventure can help you grow your confidence and this is just the thing needed when starting a new career. You will become a standout candidate in job interviews when you share the amazing journey you had during college.
Grow your professional skills with a trip away!
1. Grow your confidence
Confidence is a skill and it can be developed. Traveling will make you a more confident individual, which will help you to cope with challenging situations in the future (and at a new job). Travel forces you to cope with new situations, and these experiences will give you assurance that you are capable of doing things that you thought previously uncapable.
Self confidence will increase your employability as a person. A positive, can-do attitude is a major selling point for graduates. This doesn’t mean being loud or gregarious but having pride in your work and desire to give your best. Employers will believe your strengths because you will appear certain in yourself and trustworthy.
2. Develop your interpersonal skills
Communication is the foundation to any successful career, and if you are a strong communicator, you will go far. The most valuable skills for any job seeker is excellent communication and social skills. Employers want candidates who can relate to others and work with people from diverse backgrounds.
Interpersonal skills can’t be taught in the classroom and can only really be learned through experience. Travel gives you the opportunity to develop skills like communication, time keeping, leadership, and perseverance. Interacting with people from all over the globe will make you a stronger listener and communicator in your career.
3. Cultivate mindfulness
What is mindfulness? It is an important skill that involves learning to direct your attention to an experience as it unfolds. This involves paying attention with a particular intention.
Travel leads to mindfulness because it is unexpected, and we have to learn to adjust to different situations. We also use our senses and give more attention to the present moment as we witness a new place. Finally, we grow our patience as we sit and watch what is going on around us.
Mindfulness is about approaching a situation with curiosity and an open mind, not worrying about the outcome, and also responding well to any situation.
Many colleges are encouraging the practice of mindfulness. David Mick from the University of Virginia McIntire School of Commerce teaches a “Wisdom and Well-Being Course”. According to him, it is about being present-oriented and nonjudgmental. He said, “Your mind is not running in the future or ruminating on the past. You are in the moment, present in whatever conversation you are having or activity you are doing. Secondly, you are nonjudgmental, which is very hard because being judgmental is almost built evolutionary into who we are.”
Begin your adventure today!
Start planning your adventure away and discover somewhere new in between classes. You will find that the benefits of travel are endless – with valuable learnings for your first career.
Amy Pritchett is a travel blogger who writes about outdoor adventures and traveling the world (wegoplaces.me). She encourages all college students to take an adventure away to grow and develop themselves both personally and professionally.
