Advice from anyone on what to do after school?
Asked by Lorain D
Ok so I'm 17 (18 in the summer) and i am doing my last year of secondary school in ireland. that means that next year i should be going to college. However i have no idea what i want to study, so i am thinking of taking a gap year. i would love to travel everywhere but esp to america. i always loved animals especially dolphns, horses, dogs, cats. I might consider doing something with animals as a career. i thought maybe i could work at a dolphin centre or something during my gap year. or go to africa and work with endangered animals. or the amazon.. i also love sports and being outdoors. i might consider being a Physical Educations teacher or work in an adventure center. i would have to find a way of financing my gap year aswell. and what about places like campamerica? would that be good? i have so many questions and i have done alot of research but i still have no idea what to do.. also id like to study abroad the year after my gap. What do you think?any advice and ideas? merry xmas

Best Answer:
shave your balls

when you apply for any of the jobs you mention make sure your spelling is up to scratch and good luck.
Answered by tristar

Here's some advice based on my own gap experience and what I've heard. First thing to do is decide if you want to travel on your own, with an organisation, or with a friend or two. On your own= lonely, dangerous in some parts of the world, but cheap and you can do whatever the hell you want! With an organisation= you can do all sorts of things like volunteer work with children, poor people or animals, learn a language, get work experience, do adventure sports or just travel. Great for making friends! I made friends quickly despite being a shy nerdy guy! Also its great to travel after the placement- chances are some of your fellow placement people will want to do the same thing so you don't need to worry about travel companions! Disadvantage is the cost- and its not usually proportional to the length of stay as well- short placements cost more proportionally to long ones and you get less out of them- still there are exceptions- there are some very cheap placement companies out there. With a friend= Would certainly be fun so ask your friends if anyone else is interested! If you decide to use an organisation then take a look at an umbrella website that independantly shows you all the different organisations. Organisations like Camp America and similar will be on that. here's a link to such umbrella sites- http://www.yearoutgroup.org/ another useful website through which you can even find travelling companions http://www.gapyear.com/ I don't know about study abroad- it is easier to do that for the second or third (if 4 years) degree. rather than the first. If you decide to do it then your uni will give you all the help and advice you need. As for doing it the FIRST year of your degree or your whole degree- best ask your college about how to apply. And Financing- if its the same in Ireland as in the UK you'll have 15 months between term finishes at school and before uni term starts so if you choose to go on a 3 month gap year at the end of those 15 months for example that is a whole year in which you can work full time- which if you are careful should easily cover it. Especially if you are able to stay at home. Even if you want to do a longer gap year working full time and carefully saving should provide enough money. So- finish school and get a full time job, arrange a gap year for the end of your placement and make sure you commit to saving, not spending your earnings. If you really don't think that will provide enough money or if you want to travel for a very long time I know some people who have taken MORE THAN ONE year off before uni. Maybe a whole 18 months earning and 9 months travelling? It is a possibility- just make sure it doesn't affect your uni options first. Of course other ways are... Fundraising. I just worked full time to save my money as did most of my fellow volunteers so I don't know about this but look on those websites I gave you- have advice on fundraising. Or ask in the forums. Working while you out there. Lets you travel for longer of course but limits your options. Again look through the organisations on those websites- some do pay you or at least pay board and lodging.
Answered by anotherusernamecozlostoldone