11 Ways to Convince Your Parents to Let You Take a Gap Year in New Zealand

Time to Leave Your Mum’s House

Are your folks finding it hard to let you go? Well, there are plenty of parent-pleasing reasons to take a gap year in New Zealand. Not only will you grow as a person, but it’s also a great way to take responsibility for your life and come home with a new bunch of transferable skills! Even the most overprotective parents can’t say no to that! Alternatively, the reasons listed below could be the sign you have been waiting for to convince yourself to travel or be a good reassurance that you are doing the right thing.

1. You Can Explore The World Before Dedicating Yourself to a Career Path

Studying can be long and tedious at times, take the time to explore the world before you have to repay your study loans and start a career.

2. You’ll Obtain Valuable Life and Work Experience

Nobody can deny that travelling is the best life experience there is. Most people grow tremendously as a person. Put it this way: would you learn more while flipping burgers at McDonald’s at home, or while making your way through New Zealand getting experience in different jobs?

3. A Gap Year Will Help You Decide What You Want to do with Your Life

In fact, it will give you a chance to explore a couple of career paths. Short seasonal jobs in different industries may help you figure out the right career path for you before spending money on expensive tuition fees. Plus, thanks to a working holiday visa, you will be able to work to fund your trip.

4. Colleges Love Travellers

Applications and interviews for universities/colleges are now centred more than ever around personality and life experience. Find out more about How to Use a Gap Year as Valuable Experience on Your CV / Resume.

5. You’ll Learn to be Efficient with Money!

With a working holiday visa in New Zealand, you will be able to work to break even during your year abroad. Who else can say that they travelled across the world and it cost them next to nothing?! Budgeting will become second nature to you.

6. You Will Become Bilingual

Thanks to the internet we are now living in a global workplace. In New Zealand, you will be able to perfect your English and separate yourself from the rest of the pack in the job market.

7. Your CV Will Stand Out

Employers value more and more cross-cultural communication skills and foreign languages skills. You will also be able to gain work experience and use initiative.

8. You’ll be Super Cultured

The New Zealand Maori culture is rich and captivating. Discovering it while living in New Zealand will truly open your mind to different ways of living.

11 Ways to Convince Your Parents to Let You Take a Gap Year in New Zealand

9. You Will be More Independent

Staying in your bedroom at home won’t help you find independence and use your initiative. New Zealand will though.

10. It Will Build Your Confidence

Taking a gap year in New Zealand is taking a calculated risk. Nevertheless, a risk it is, so being able to tackle it on your own will build confidence for both your professional and personal life.

11. You Will Give Back to New Zealand

There are volunteering opportunities out there, such as volunteering for the Department of Conservation.

Find Out if it Was Actually Your Parents Who Convinced You to Take a Gap Year…

… They probably read our article: 9 Way to Convince Your Kids to Take a Gap Year in New Zealand.

Author

Robin C.

This article was reviewed and published by Robin, the co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. He has lived, worked and travelled across 16 different countries before calling New Zealand home. He has now spent over a decade in the New Zealand tourism industry, clocking in more than 600 activities across the country. He is passionate about sharing those experiences and advice on NZ Pocket Guide and its YouTube channel. Robin is also the co-founder of several other South Pacific travel guides.

Contact Robin via our contact page