“Ask not what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do that. Because what the world needs, is people who have come alive.”

- Howard Thurman

The past decade has revealed increasing levels of mental health concerns across university and college campuses, with more than two-thirds of North American post-secondary students experiencing overwhelming anxiety, according to a recent study. While there are many factors contributing to this crisis, at Discover Year we believe that one way to overcome it is to help young adults develop a sense of purpose in their lives.

Purpose is created when a person uses their greatest strengths to pursue their passions. The problem, however, is that very few students have a clear sense of their authentic strengths or passions at the age of 18. Better understanding their interests, values and talents is key to unlocking young adults' unique potential. At Discover Year, we strive to help our students come alive and discover their purpose. A Discover Year is not a guaranteed one-year journey to success, but it is the start of a lifelong journey to significance.

  • 89% of university graduates recommend that students do more networking to facilitate their career transition.
  • 83% of students change career paths between the age of 18-25.
  • 40% of North American students entering post-secondary education wait more than four months prior to starting university or college.
  • 14% of North American university students drop out before the end of their first year.


The Case For A Purposeful Gap Year

Did you know that 90% of "gappers" go on to enroll in a four-year post-secondary institution within one year of completing their gap year?



Studies have shown that taking a gap year not only improves GPA in college, but also more significantly improves job satisfaction post-college (2015, National Alumni Survey, American Gap Association). While the concept of the "gap year" remains relatively undeveloped in Canada, we believe that there has never been a better time for young adults to undertake a structured, purposeful year as a stepping stone to post-secondary education or the workforce.

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