The Gap Year Podcast

Calling all 2022/23 Gappers! With your gap year in full swing, there may be some challenges surfacing. Perhaps you’re having trouble with organizing your tasks and events, or maybe you're overwhelmed by your gap year finances, you may even be struggling to make a decision.   But don’t worry, because in today’s episode Michelle shares how you can fix these mistakes to have the most EPIC gap year po...

On today’s episode, Michelle is joined by Almeera, university student and part-time employee at CanGap! She has been part of the team for over 3 years and began her journey working as a co-op student. She’s sharing how she was able to turn a co-op placement into a paid opportunity and dives into valuable advice for gappers and students who are in a similar position.    Michelle and Almeera also go...

Did you hear?! CanGap’s Gap Year Frosh Week is right around the corner and it is the PERFECT opportunity to kickstart your gap year!    In this episode, Michelle walks you through the 3 EPIC nights filled with opportunities to meet new friends, participate in activities and workshops, and hear from our phenomenal keynote speakers, whose stories will ignite so much passion and excitement! Not to me...

Learn more about the Gap Year Accelerator here! 

In today’s episode, we invited a very special guest, the incredible Jazzmine Raine, CanGap’s Community and Communications Manager. Jazz shares her inspirational life story and experiences with us. From learning about grassroots development in Ghana to co-founding India’s first zero waste guesthouse, Hara House. She takes us through the ups and downs of her journey and reflects on the valuable less...

Supporting students on gap years is everybody’s responsibility, including higher education institutions - especially when it comes to mental health and well-being.  In today’s episode, we invited Mike Stroh, founder of Starts With Me, and Steven Kavaratzis from the Ted Rogers School of Management, to discuss what pushing pause looks like for post secondary students. They analyze current trends and...

Taking a gap year truly opens the door to thousands of possibilities! Some common ones you probably have heard include traveling, volunteering, or exploring personal passions. However, have you ever heard of someone working to save money to buy their parents a house and increase their income from $0 to $83k?!  In this episode of the podcast, the incredible Karan Agrawal shares his story of perseve...

This episode is for all of the parents out there! When our kids don’t know what to do, they look to us as parents, but what if we don’t know what to do either?! A gap year is uncharted territory and that is why we are here to support you and your child during this exciting yet nerve wracking time. Michelle Dittmer, your resident gap year expert, shares her guide on how to effectively support your...

Imagine being able to live your dreams, travel the world and volunteer with animals! Well, guess what? You can totally do that with Animal Experience International (AEI), a B-Corp organization! In this episode, we invited co-founder Nora to share more about the unique experiences offered through AEI. Together, Michelle and Nora discuss how to find a career path that aligns with your passions and h...

Summary  Thinking of applying to higher education programs now, but still want to take a gap year? This is totally possible by deferring your acceptance! This guarantees you a spot for the following year so you don’t have to worry about applying or getting accepted - you can just enjoy your gap year!   You may be wondering, how can I apply for a deferral? In today’s episode, we’ve got you covered...

Summary  Have you ever thought about becoming a marine biologist? Perhaps you have an interest in this fascinating field, but can’t seem to find the resources or opportunities to further explore it. Well, you are in luck, because in today’s episode, Lisa Chen, a Marine Biology Conservationist, Educator and Entrepreneur, shares her story of working in the industry and her incredible experience thro...

Summary  “So, you’re telling me you want to give me $1000 to NOT return to school?” That’s right, Gappers! In celebration of our 5th anniversary, CanGap is giving away $5000 in Gap Year Scholarships this year to 5 gap year students and gap year alum. Our first round of spring scholarships will award $1000 to two 2022/23 gap year students and one gap year student finishing their gap year this year....

Raise your hand if you are feeling burnt out. If your hand is up, know you are not alone. Parents are burnt out, teachers are burnt out, employees and employers are burnt out, and students are burnt out. It's a very common experience that we're all having two-plus years into this pandemic life - something we never thought we would experience. We all need a little bit of a break from everything tha...

If you've ever dreamt of going to Switzerland, you’ll wanna hear Jack Moser’s story about his gap year at Neuchâtel Junior College. In this episode, he paints a beautiful picture of Switzerland and his incredible time in Neuchâtel while describing the town, his daily commute, his class schedule, the Canadian school curriculum and his amazing Canadian teachers. Discover why he said it was the best...

If you've got money on the brain, or if you're worried that your gap year may be “expensive” and you won’t be able to afford it, we’ve got you covered.  In this episode, we bust the most common myths around money during your gap year and offer up helpful tips that make this process easier and more comfortable.  Come learn the importance of establishing a budget, goal-setting and the exact processe...

Resources To Help Students Build A Strong Foundation During Their Gap Year with Michael Shouldice March 4, 2022   Summary  We all have regrets, however, if we plan our gap year mindfully, we can lay the foundation for a very bright future. Today's guest Michael Shouldice from Athabasca University talks about his three gap years and some of the things that he would have done differently if he were...

A 2022/2023 gap year is all about reclaiming your life. It's about finding a sense of control, feeling you are moving yourself forward towards your goals, having fun, being adventurous and developing real world skills to help you become an adult.   In this episode, Michelle talks about some of the concrete reasons why a 2022/2023 gap year makes sense, as well as addressing common concerns.     202...

We often feel compelled to keep going, to finish that degree or to pursue more years of higher education, even when a voice in our head tells us to take a break or to change paths. Now, changing your plans is not easy to do, in fact, it takes a great amount of self-awareness and courage to pursue an idea or an opportunity outside of your comfort zone. However, these changes in life often lead to t...

Have you heard the phrase “For Lifer’s” before? This is when someone finds perfect alignment in something and it sticks around for a very long time. For Tyler, this was finding and working with the incredible Canadian Non-Profit Organization, LiveDifferent. LiveDifferent provides volunteers the opportunity to make a difference in the developing world by working alongside community members to take...

Many people are intimidated by the daunting task of planning an entire gap year. Asking, “What should I plan?” “How should I plan?”. Even raising the question, “Is there a point in planning?!”   With COVID still hanging around, Michelle shares her top tips on how to navigate the virtual world, set smart goals and curate a functional plan that prioritizes your goals and aspirations.    And, we’ve t...

What is your top bucket list goal? Is it to go skydiving, swim with sharks, or run a marathon? Well, for Ashlyn George, her goal was to chase the sun for an entire year!    After graduating from university, she curated a 6-month plan to travel through Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, exploring new cities, eating delicious cuisines and experiencing things that she never imagined. Ashlyn thought, “i...

New years always bring up conversations about resolutions, goal setting and milestones that you will accomplish in the year, like beginning your post-secondary journey.  However, those wanting to start a gap year this year, may experience the complex emotions of guilt and shame, which is brought about by family culture, peer pressure, societal norms and your very own inner critic for not pursuing...

AJ had no intention to pursue a gap year. But missing the IRL university experience due to a pandemic didn’t seem ideal either.   With just two days to go before he was to begin his first semester at University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce, AJ deferred his acceptance and jumped (literally!) into the start of his gap year.   In this episode, AJ reflects on his gap year experience during the 2020/20...

Feeling a little anxious about all those post-secondary questions your uncle, grandma and neighbour will be asking you over the holiday break?   Whether you’re considering a gap year, clear on your post-secondary path, or totally unsure about your next step, we got you covered with this short and value-packed episode.   In this holiday special, Michelle covers how to tackle conversations about pos...

When you’re making a decision, there’s often a few ways you gather information before moving forward.   Like doing your own research, weighing the decision on your own, and seeking the opinions of others.    Asking mom. Asking dad. Asking friends and asking influencers. And when we say “influencer”, we’re not talking about the YouTube or Instagram influencers you follow, we’re talking about the ev...