EnRoute Consulting

Julia: Well, there are a lot of educational consultants out there, but very few that focus only on gap years. EnRoute specializes in travel, volunteering, interning and enrichment opportunities. The services are customized to the individual student to help them formulate their ideal gap year plan.

EnRoute was originally formed to help people find meaningful volunteer opportunities and that is still at the heart of our company. I vet every single volunteer program we work with to make sure they are benefiting the host community as well as the volunteer. Volunteering has become a bit of an industry but there are still so many worthwhile projects out there doing amazing work. I want to send students to the projects where they will have the most positive impact possible.

Julia: Be an ambassador. Almost every gap year student travels at some point during their year – and many out of the country. This is both an amazing opportunity and big responsibility that we don’t always realize. Treat the places you visit and the people you meet with respect. Your actions and interactions speak not only for yourself but also to all Americans (believe it or not!).

Traveling makes you realize the impact America has on the rest of the world – both the good and the bad. If you help a community or have a nice conversation with a stranger, that goes a long way in cultivating a positive image of Americans. Why does this matter? The ripple effect of a positive image is far-reaching: it makes travel safer, improves trade and reminds us all that we are not so different from one another. Leaving locals with a positive impression by being friendly and culturally sensitive is micro-diplomacy in action!

Julia: It is my sincere hope that in ten years taking a gap year will be the norm. Not that every student will take one, but that it will be as normal as going straight to college. The gap year is really gaining momentum so I can definitely see that happening.

I think in coming years we will see new programs offering specific skills learning opportunities for gap year students. For example, an engineering-focused gap year with hands-on training as well as a service-learning component. I would love to see the government run a dedicated gap year program so students can volunteer domestically or internationally while receiving an educational stipend they can use toward college.