Thanks from Sydney

Finished uni in Sydney and had no idea what to do next. I didn't want a normal gap year of just backpacking — I wanted something that would actually help my future. GAC's gap year program was perfect.

I spent 6 months in Beijing: interned at a marketing agency in the mornings, studied Mandarin at BLCU in the afternoons, and explored China on weekends. The team arranged everything — my internship, classes, shared apartment with other interns, even weekend trips to the Great Wall and Xi'an.

My Mandarin went from zero to holding conversations. My internship gave me real experience I still use in interviews. And the friends I made are from all over the world.

If you're Australian and thinking about a gap year, skip the usual backpacking route. Do something that builds your future. This was the best decision I ever made.