3:06p.m. 1st September 2008

| By Sam Benger

Immanuel year 12 student Courtney Bowd is taking next year off from study to earn some funds to study psychology. She is pictured with her mum and dad, Julie and Kerry. Photo: Barry Leddicoat/177759

The end of the school year is fast approaching, and with Year 12 students across the Coast preparing for the QCS test and final examinations, many have decided to opt for a gap year next year, rather than diving straight into further study.

Immanuel Lutheran College Year 12 student Courtney Bowd, is one of a growing number of school-leavers who choose to take a year off before continuing with their studies.

Courtney said she wanted to work full-time during her gap year to save some money for future university costs.

“There was a lot of information from school and other resources about what our options were, so I sat down with my mum and dad to discuss the pros and cons of it all and in the end I decided to save up some money before going to uni,” she said.

Courtney said she wasn’t fussed about the type of full-time work she would undertake during her gap year, but wanted to get some “life experience” under her belt before settling down to study.

“I thought it’d be good to have an extra year to decide what I want to do, and to travel and meet new people.

“I might change my mind on what I want to do, and I’d rather take a year to think about it instead of getting halfway through a uni course.”

While she was interested in doing a Bachelor of Science majoring in Psychology at Brisbane’s University of Queensland, Courtney said it was hard to decide on a future career as a teenager.

“It’s hard when you’re in Year 10 and you have to choose subjects and look ahead 10 years and say ‘That’s what I want to do for the rest of my life’,” she said.

Courtney said she planned to apply for university at the end of this year and then defer for a year.

“If that doesn’t work out, then I’ll apply next year and go from there,” she said.

Her mum, Julie, said she felt a gap year was the right move.

“Courtney didn’t feel like she was ready to go off to uni straight away next year ... and she wanted to get some work and money under her belt which will help with the cost when she does go to uni,” she said.

“It’s been a joint decision, we talked it over together and decided what was best and we came up with a plan once we investigated everything.”

Julie said while she and husband, Kerry, had not looked at taking a gap year when they went to college to become teachers, it was more accepted now.

“It’s more popular now, and I guess the only thing for us is to make sure she will go on to uni, because I think everything is qualifications-based now and if you have the qualifications it will put you in good stead, so that is important,” she said.

“But if Courtney comes across a great job opportunity and didn’t see the need for uni, then we could reassess things.”

Kerrod Murray, 17, was also planning to take a gap year next year, and wanted to work for six months and then travel overseas.

“I figure if I went straight to uni and then got a job, I wouldn’t have as much time to travel and see the world, so at this stage I want to work for six months and then travel overseas,” he said.

He said his parents were supportive of the move and knew he would go on to university after his gap year.

“I definitely want to go to uni to study urban development and then hopefully I’ll get a career in development,” he said.

Kerrod said it was about 50-50 for students wanting to take a gap year and those going straight on to tertiary study.

“It’s definitely become more popular to take a gap year, especially with the Defence Force offering careers, and a lot of people are also going overseas,” he said.

Max McGregor, from Sunshine Beach State High School, was one of those taking up a position in the army next year and said he hoped the gap year would turn into a full-time career in the defence forces.

“I’ve always been interested in the army, but I thought four years was a big commitment, so this was a great opportunity to try it out and decide if it’s really what I want to do,” he said.

Max said he hoped to study a trade after his gap year and continue working in the Defence Force.

His mum Leonie said she was happy to support him. “He did all the prep work and found out all about it and if he doesn’t like it then he’s not stuck in it for four years.”