I plan to attend university of Toronoto’s track one engineering program but I would really like to take a gap year. This has been on my mind since sophomore year for all the right reasons. I want to gain work expierence, further develop academic passions of mine, explore my deep passion of world travel and gain a broader perspective before heading off to college. I feel if I didn’t take some time off I’d either burn out or feel as though I’ve cheated myself out of my true passions. The problem is my parents are very down on this idea and believe I will never go to college, are afraid to let me travel and that it will be the biggest mistake of my life. I understand my parents opinion and that they are only doing so based upon what they truly see as best but I’m confident in my desire to take some time off. Any advice you could offer me in making and convincing my parents of this decidion would be greatly appreciated.
The people who never go to college after a gap year are people who shouldn’t have been thinking of college in the first place. Like as not they would have dropped out within a year or two. If you were to discover during a gap year that you have realistic career goals (such as a skilled trade) that don’t require university studies, both you and your family budget will be way ahead.
Taking a year off to detox a bit from the academic ratrace and to get some practical work experience is generally seen as a good thing. Most students who take gap years start college with more focus, and consequently perform better in class.
It could be very challenging for you to fit your current list of gap year goals into the time you would have. You need a clearer breakdown for your parents. “I have arranged with Ms. A to work with her at Company B for C months in order to earn D so that I can pay for a trip to E F and G, as well as have money left over for books when I start college. I will visit the H museum and hike the I trail while on my trip. I will stay with your cousin J and my friend K’s sister and for L nights at the youth hostel in M.” gives you much more specific room to negotiate than “I want to explore my deep passion for international travel.” Throwing in “And if you and Mom come along for part of this trip, I’ve found a great AirBnB in N.” might not be a bad idea either. Especially if your parents share your passion for travel 
Nearly all parents I know enjoy travel and do not enjoy working to pay for our kids to do it without us
@privatebanker :))
You are correct my parents do enjoy traveling and that’s a great idea but I personally could never see my parents encouraging me to take time off to travel with them. Keep in mind my parents wouldn’t be paying for any of my travels besides giving me a house to sleep in while I’m earning the money to go on them. If I came off as a snobby rich kid I apologize, I’m just a normal kid looking for something a bit different.
I took a gap year and ended up growing so much! I highly recommend you show them this article → https://www.soulfulseedsblog.com/2018/05/why-you-should-take-a-gap-year/ . After my gap year, I ended up getting into a top 15 school and am confident that without the experiences I had in a year off, I wouldn’t have gotten in.
Another idea is to do a more structured gap year…like do an exchange program or something
Here are some ideas that may help you find things to do. None of them involve getting your parents to buy you a ticket to travel for a year.
SCA – Student Conservation Association – multiple internship opportunities of varying lengths. “Hot” jobs need help like now. Jobs are quite varied so look through them well. https://www.thesca.org/
Workaway – a website that lists places you can work throughout the world. They provide housing and sometimes at least one meal. You work for 4-5 hours a day. The rest of the time is yours. Local opportunities and worldwide.
Coolworks – jobs that pay, often including housing, around the USA, in great places.
Hike the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail — https://thetrek.co/
Join Americorps NCCC, Vista, or Fema – room, stipend, work experience, and $5K at the end towards college.
Volunteer.gov – several positions offer housing.