Graduating high school is a huge accomplishment and serves as a guiding step to the rest of your life. But before you head off to college or enter the workforce in your own country, there are many benefits and rewards that come from reaping the experiences of a different culture. As someone who took advantage of traveling abroad at a young age, the CEO of Felt and Fat, Nathaniel Mell, explains why you should go abroad during your youth for the most valuable experience possible.
Making the Most of a Gap Year
By taking a gap year after you graduate high school, you can take some time to better understand yourself and what you want your future to look like—which is no easy task for anyone, especially young people. One of the best ways to do this is by going abroad, which looks awesome on your resume, boosts your communication skills, and provides you with invaluable life experiences.
Outside of the United States, gap years are extremely common. While this fantastic opportunity has only recently become more culturally prevalent and acceptable in America, there is more reason than ever before to go abroad during your youth. Not only will you come away more confident heading into your college or work experience, but you’ll also enjoy immersion in a place that is totally foreign to you. To gain this-worldly understanding at a young age sets you way ahead of the pack, both in terms of career opportunities and maturity.
Preparing for Independence
When you leave the nest of your childhood home, you have lots of new responsibilities. These include making your own meals, doing your laundry, keeping your space tidy, managing your daily schedule, and in many cases taking control of your bank account. By taking a gap year abroad before college, you are immersed in a life of independence. You’re going to be challenged in all the best ways, allowing you to grow as a person.
Not only will you garner a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses before venturing into adulthood, but you’ll also be more equipped to take the next step—whatever that may look like for you. Your parents and guardians have been preparing you for this moment for a long time, and it’s finally time to show them that you are ready to make the leap into the rest of your life as an individual person. What could be more exciting?
Studying or volunteering abroad at a young age has a wide array of benefits. If you’re graduating high school, there is no rush to run off to college or enter the workforce. Instead, you can embark on a journey that sets the stage for the rest of your life: giving you the cultural experiences that will serve you for years to come.
Show up to college or the workforce with more maturity, understanding, and culture than your peers. Take a gap year abroad to reap all the incredible benefits!
About Nate Mell
Nathaniel Mell is the founder and CEO of Felt+Fat, a ceramic design, and manufacturing studio based in the Kensington neighborhood of Philadelphia. In 2013 Nate was asked to design a set of plates for what would become the award-winning restaurant ‘High Street on Market.’ Since then, the Felt and Fat studio and team have grown exponentially through Mell’s leadership to become a go-to manufacturer for design-conscious restaurateurs.