I didn’t get my predicted grades - and I’m glad.

Author: Ruqia Khan

Ruqia inspired young people on her gap year as a Yipiyap tutor, and now studies Diagnostic Radiography at university.

Results Day didn’t go as planned? Worried about what to do to next? Ruqia felt the same. Now, she’s studying Diagnostic Radiography at university, after a rewarding and enriching gap year working with Yipiyap. Here’s what she did with her year out:

Everything happens for a reason

Post A-levels I was drained; when results day didn’t go quite as planned as I’d envisioned in my head, I was completely distraught. It felt like I was ‘falling behind’ and ‘being held back’, whilst I watched my friends and peers go forward.

Reflecting on these thoughts, I’ve learned and accepted there is no such thing as ‘falling behind’ or ‘being held back’. In retrospect, tutoring and taking a year out actually enabled me to become a more well-rounded person. A huge difference I’ve witnessed in myself is my change from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset, which has allowed me to embrace challenges and view failures as opportunities to grow and learn, as well as wanting to try new things.

Before heading into my gap year, I was worried about a bunch of different things. There was this cloud of uncertainty hovering around me; uncertainty about the future, uncertainty about my next steps and so on forth. But coming out of my gap year on the other side has really taught me that everything will slowly but surely work out in your favour.

I must admit, the beginning of the year was quite difficult, adapting to the huge change of not being in education after fifteen consecutive years wasn’t easy and straightforward. Nonetheless, I was excited to witness what life had in store for me; to start tutoring with Yipiyap, and be part of a wider community that aims to uplift students and help them achieve their dreams.

“The lightbulb moment when you witness a student understand something for the first time was a joy to experience.”

The benefits of gap-year work

My time with Yipiyap has allowed me to considerably develop professionally and exhibit a high level of work ethic and excellence.

Tutoring overall has been a wonderful experience. Watching my students work hard, grow in confidence and have more belief in themselves and their ability has been great.

As a tutor, I’d like to think I was able to make education a more fun experience for my tutees, by ensuring that sessions were interactive, exciting and giving them the chance to take the lead wherever possible. The lightbulb moment when you witness a student understand something for the first time was a joy to experience.

I have also learned to use my time productively to focus on my job responsibilities and avoid being distracted, as part of my role involved working remotely and online. Working as an online tutor has helped me strengthen my self–discipline and self-control simultaneously.

Building a habit of time-blocking during the day to reply to emails and to create resources to use in sessions (alongside tutoring) proved to be effective and increase my productivity.

My time at Yipiyap has been very nurturing. It helped me mature as both an individual and as a professional, and I’ve gained a range of skills that I’ll be able to transfer into my next steps!

“I was able to really think about what I’d like to study and what I’d like my future to look like.”

A chance to breathe after A-levels

Besides tutoring and working, taking a gap year gave me the chance to do some volunteering and try new things that I had been wanting to, but never found the time to do so! I was able to get back into reading after not being able to do so for time; which allowed me to discover new authors and new books such as the Japanese author Mieko Kawakami!

A new hobby I picked up was scrapbooking/journaling which I absolutely adore because it helps me physically retain memories and precious moments rather than relying on them to be electronically stored. There are no rules to scrapbooking and journaling or any caps on creativity, so you are free to do whatever you like and be as creative as possible!

Deciding what to study at university

For my next steps, I am off to university to study Diagnostic Radiography. This highlights yet another pro of this gap year - I was able to really take time to myself to think about what I’d like to study what I’d like my future to look like.

I am thrilled to start university soon, slightly nervous (which is normal and healthy) but excited to start studying my chosen course and learn more in depth about, to meet new people and to explore a new city!

Overall, I am grateful for my gap year and the for the opportunity to improve myself as a person, to slow down and not always be on a pedestal. This year has been very rewarding, and I am very grateful to everyone at Yipiyap for their time and for their advice and feedback and for always being available to help mw out. I am also excited to move forward and attend university and see what surprises life has in store waiting for me!