Dear Auntie,
I am 18 years old. After my F.Sc (pre-Engineering), I am waiting for admission in an engineering university, but my parents can’t afford it. I have three brothers. Two are younger than me and the elder one studies engineering at a private university. My parents can’t afford university education for both of us. They asked me to wait a year and take admission the following year. With nothing to do for a whole year, I wanted to work but every government job requires a contract of more than one year. And I couldn’t find an appropriate job in the private sector.

I am also looking for a scholarship programme covering my graduate degree. I found some scholarships which were fully funded (covering fee, accommodation, medical insurance, living allowance, etc.), but every time some issue regarding the last date to apply or medium of studies arises. I have even applied in a private school. I am in despair. I need your advice on what to do in such a situation.
Feeling Helpless                                                                                           Dear Feeling Helpless,
There is a lot to be said in favour of a gap year. In fact, a break from formal education can be outright beneficial for young people like you. If you play your cards right, the experiences you chalk up in this gap year will likely prove extremely beneficial when you eventually go back to your studies.

‘I want to do something useful in my gap year’

Yes, it is tough and Auntie would say that this is your first taste of adult life. A lot of people have it rough looking for a first job and you are learning that. Take it as a learning experience, keep trying and keep applying for positions. Very few people strike gold with the first job they apply for. Apply for jobs and also internships (even if they are unpaid). At this point, you want to get workplace experience under your belt. And the only thing that will help is persistence. So make your CV, get on to social media (especially LinkedIn), scour print media and call up all your friends/contacts and let it be known that you are looking for a job or an internship. Make looking for a job your full time job. You haven’t said anything about where you live, and I don’t know how open your parents would be to letting you move to another city, but if it comes to that, try and relocate. It is uncomfortable, but it will be good for you in the long run.

If finding work is taking time, use this time to start some voluntary work. This way, you won’t be wasting time during your gap year, you will be contributing to a good cause and you will be able to demonstrate to your future university and any future employer that you didn’t just sit around twiddling your thumbs while time flew by. Environmental conservation, social welfare, street children, education … Auntie could go on and on about the issues that plague our country and that could be helped when you give them your time. Not only will volunteer activity help you put something on your CV and get a reference letter, it will also be personally rewarding.

If your parents agree, or if you get a job, try and put some money towards learning a new skill during the gap year. Try and learn a skill that you are actually interested in, such as web design, drawing or music. If you cannot enrol in a short course, think about something you really want to learn or a hobby you really want to pursue and try and find as many free resources as you can that can help you.

This gap year will actually give you time to think about what you really want to do with your life and it might even change some of your previous goals. Culturally, we are trained to think negatively about a gap year. However, Auntie believes it is an excellent thing. It gives you a much needed break from years of school, reminding many of us that we are living breathing people, not robots stuck in an endless cycle. Use it well, think about your life, take the necessary actions and it will work for you. Best of luck!

Auntie will not reply privately to any query. Please send concise queries to: auntieagni@gmail.com

Published in Dawn, EOS, July 14th, 2019