I won’t lie; taking a gap year initially sounded like a really daunting idea to me. I wanted to do and see so much, yet I had no idea where to start. Amidst university applications, I would often find myself researching volunteering opportunities abroad, as well as incredible cultural experiences and adventures in countries far from home—places that could foster personal growth and provide life-changing learning experiences. And that’s when I found Pacific Discovery.
I wanted to spend my gap year trying out as many new things as possible, and I didn’t think I would find a program that could provide me with all of that, but thankfully, PD was all of the above and more. My travels with PD allowed me not only to meet but also to share experiences with people I never thought I would have the chance to meet. I saw places I still have a hard time believing were real. I stepped out of my comfort zone more times than I would like to admit, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Even a year later, I still bring up my travels in any conversation I can because, as cringeworthy as this sounds, those travels changed my life in every possible way. I learned to share spaces, hobbies, cooking utensils, recipes, and lives with a group of strangers who soon became like family. I learned about Indigenous and native cultures and their stories, and I promise no history class you have ever had at school will match this experience.
I surfed, went canyoning, snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef, and did a thousand other things for the first time on the programs. I gained leadership and communication skills and also learned a great deal about myself—all lessons I know I will keep forever.
But most importantly—and arguably the most significant selling point—is that I had fun. I had an immense amount of fun. I look back on these memories and know that signing up for this program was, by far, one of the best decisions of my life. So, if you were ever in doubt about whether a program like this is worth it, I hope I have convinced you that it is.
In other words, a gap semester is a life-changing opportunity, one that you can only truly understand once you experience it for yourself. And I give you my word that you won’t regret it.
So, if you haven’t already signed up, what are you waiting for? And if you have, pack your bags and get ready—because you have no idea how quickly it goes by, and trust me, you're going to want to remember every second of it.
Posted by Caterina M. on June 16, 2025
