And I wasn’t the only one who got work experience – there are always experiential roles to fill at the Bible Institute, even now. In my department alone, we’re offering students service opportunities in photography, design, writing, project management, and other creative fields. Other departments and service areas offer students opportunities in customer service, groundskeeping, IT, videography, tech support, culinary service, and more. So a gap year is a great way to explore different options. Find what you love and gain valuable experience.
MYTH #2
IT’S SELF-CENTERED
While some gap year students might have selfish motivations, for most, gap years are a time to become a better version of yourself and ultimately serve others more effectively. In my experience of taking the time to study God’s Word, most would agree that this kind of “selfishness” isn’t selfishness at all – it’s self-development. Plus, during my time at the Bible Institute, I didn’t just focus on bettering myself. At the Bible Institute, there’s a core ministry component that’s all about serving others. I went out and learned what it means to intelligently share the Good News of Jesus in New York City and Clearwater, Florida. I learned how to more effectively deal with kids and how to communicate with them through my ministry experiences at the Bible Institute. During my second-year ministry with a church plant, I learned not only what a church plant looks like but how the process looks – a great experience considering that I want to support church plant works my whole life. Besides that, I also learned a lot from counseling at the Florida Youth Camp, and I even had the opportunity to intern at a church my second year.
MYTH #3
IT WON’T ADVANCE YOUR EDUCATION
Educationally speaking, the Bible Institute was actually a big leap forward. Besides giving me affordable credits that transferred over to Liberty University, where I completed my Bachelor’s in Biblical and Theological studies, what I learned at the Bible Institute put me considerably ahead of most of my Liberty peers. Actually, I’m not even sure why it’s called a “gap” year. It’s not like it’s some void on my record or my résumé, as if I fell off the face of the “career” planet for a year. Of course, I can’t speak for all gap year experiences, and there were times that I definitely wondered if I had made the right decision. But looking back, I know it was right, and what I learned was well worth it.
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