Gap Year in Denmark: Let Go of Perfectionism and Embrace Mistakes

Did you take a gap year and have some inspirational stories you’d like to share with others? For many students, a gap year is their first attempt at a solo trip abroad, especially because volunteer travel is one of the most affordable and safest ways to see the world. Our volunteer, Isabella Hedly, just participated in a gap year in Denmark through the support of the Microsoft Matching Program with United Planet in a Children and Family Development and Education project.

Here she shares her thoughts on how her gap year in Denmark shifted her away from perfectionism to become more adventurous and try more new things.

“Taking a gap year has always been a part of my life plan. From the time that I was a young child, I was told by my parents that when I graduated high school I would be taking a gap year to connect to my European roots. The purpose of taking a gap year back then was to learn more about myself and what I wanted to pursue in life before starting college. My parents hoped that if I entered college with a solid idea of what I wanted to study that I would be able to do what they couldn’t do, graduate college.

Over the years though, the purpose of me taking a gap year shifted more towards reaffirming the idea that I wanted to study education in college so I could teach, learning more about another culture, and learning my fourth language.

I planned to accomplish my purposes for taking a gap year by spending six months in Denmark volunteering at a primary school before working as a nanny back home for the last six months. In Denmark, I worked as a volunteer with students in first to sixth grade as I taught the kids English. Each day I worked with close to 100 students as I moved between the classes to teach English and to assist the other teachers during danish, home economics, sports, and music. While I worked in the school, I formed bonds with the students and with the other teachers, and I learned to speak Danish. I also learned about the danish culture as the students taught me the art of hygge, or coziness, to sit as far away from others on the bus, and to appreciate rye-bread with remoulade.

In the process of learning new things about Danish culture during my gap year, I also learned more about myself as I experienced personal growth and change. One of the ways that I changed during my gap year was that I learned to become more adventurous and to try more new things; this was as simple as opening myself up to trying rye-bread, but it was also as large as trying to learn a new language. While I was learning a new language I grew personally when I learned to become okay with making mistakes. When I left for my gap year I was a perfectionist that was scared to try new experiences and make mistakes, but in the course of living abroad, I learned that it was okay to make mistakes because they help me to grow more. Leaving behind my perfectionism also allowed for personal growth in the fact that I no longer want to give up when life seems hard. I grew through facing culture shock and sticking out my experiences abroad as I learned perseverance and to work through the tough times in life. The most important changes and growth occurred as I became surer of what I want out of my life. Before leaving, I was convinced that I wanted to become a high school biology teacher, but after spending time with the primary school students, I am sure that I want to study to become an elementary school teacher. Coming out of this experience, I am most changed in the fact that I am ready to make mistakes and try new courses in my studies to become a teacher.

Overall, taking a gap year helped me to grow and become surer of myself, to become more multicultural, and to add to my love for learning languages. While being the one person to take a gap year from my high school scared me and the idea of being away from home for six months was terrifying, in the end, I wouldn’t trade the experience of my gap year for anything.”

If you’re reading this and Isabella’s gap year experience has inspired you, chances are you’re already convinced that a gap year is for you. Take a look at our amazing gap year programs.

Learn more about United Planet’s 6-month and one-year gap volunteer abroad opportunities on this page, or Contact Us to talk about the incredible opportunities you can find for your own gap year abroad!