What I Learnt from My Gap Year

Written by Irisa Chai

January 2023: Rejections

I got rejected from my top-choice universities. I had two options, accept my backup choice or take a gap year and reapply.

A gap year was never within the plans of my Asian parents.

August 2024: Decisions

Fast-forward to A-level results day. Thankfully, I did well.

During dinner, my dad asked the inevitable.

‘What’s next?’

‘I plan to take a gap year and reapply to universities.’ I answered tentatively.

‘Why do you want to waste time?’. Dad questioned in exasperated perplexity.

After negotiations, my dad acquiesced to my plan, on the condition that I would get into one of the top-five UK law universities.

So, I embarked on a completely unplanned gap year. And here is what I learnt from my gap year.

Discovering my passions

Law is a venture beyond my intellectual comfort zone.

I frequently questioned my decision to study law. Throughout secondary school, I had excelled in Maths and Sciences. I enjoyed Biology. Should I study medicine? I excelled at Maths and Economics. Should I apply for Economics? Nevertheless, I decided to stick with law.

My work experience reinforced my decision to study law. I interned at a Malaysian law firm where I drafted wills, translated documents between three languages, and wrote articles about Malaysian inheritance law. This experience equipped me with new knowledge and a sense of altruism to help others with my expertise.

Travelling to Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and Australia confirmed my affinity for travelling. I learned new languages, immersed myself in various cultures, enjoyed delicious food, and learned how to use public transport. Furthermore, planning trips and leading family members on them taught me patience, leadership, and optimism.

During my Australia trip, eating steak every day perfected my steak cooking skills, which have served me well in university.

Learning

A gap year felt like an interminable academic break. I yearned for schoolwork, exams, and even academic stress. I sought purpose in my job as an academic tutor. Through teaching, I relived the joy of learning.

Teaching taught me patience and instilled in me reverence for teachers, who play a pivotal role as educators and nurturers. Moreover, witnessing students’ improved understanding of school subjects and enhanced academic performance proved rewarding.

I received offers and rejections from universities. Learning to face and accept rejections sharpened my knife of resilience. Did I get into Cambridge? No. Was I disappointed? Tremendously. Yet, it taught me to make the best of what is given to me in life, which won’t always align with my wishes.

Lastly, I learnt to take my time. There is no need to rush or compare with others.

Was it a wasted gap year?

No.

I spent time with my family, discovered newfound passions, and watched K-dramas for days on end, from which I learnt conversational Korean phrases with which I have impressed my Korean friends.

My gap year has enriched me with a smorgasbord of experiences. Since starting university, I am able to connect with a bunch of new friends from around the globe with my travel experiences. I am well-equipped by my work experience to apply for positions of responsibility where I can further develop my skills and contribute to the university. Most importantly, I tackle the challenges of university studies with a more mature mindset and outlook on life.

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Irisa Chai is a first year Law student at King’s College London who is currently a blog writer for The Legal Outreach Project. An aspiring solicitor, she is interested in family, medical and corporate laws.