Today, I am welcoming Jane and Jason Sarouhan back to the podcast. They are the owners of J2Guides, a gap year counseling service. You might remember them from episodes 16, 26, and 55. Yes, they are my most-frequent guests here on the pod, and there’s a reason for that. There has never been a better time for a gap year and there is no one better to inform and educate on this topic than Jason and Jane. In this episode, we are focusing on gap year experiences for neurodiverse and non-traditional learners. There are a plethora of amazing gap experiences available for all types of individuals, and if families just spend some time and do their research, they will be able to find the perfect fit for their teen or young adult. During our conversation, Jane and Jason dispel some of the myths about gap years and they share some data related to college student success rates following gap years. Spoiler alert: just about every college-bound student who pauses to take a gap year not only attends college but ends up finishing faster than the average student. Don’t believe me? Check out the link to supporting data in the show notes. Jane and Jason also provide helpful information about gap experiences that will not only support neurodiverse learners but will help them build valuable life skills and develop more independence. As always, Jane and Jason bring tons of information, insight, and advice to our conversation and I’m grateful for the work that they do.
About Jane and Jason Sarouhan
Jason and Jane Sarouhan are the owners of J2Guides, a gap year counseling service. They put student agency and affordability at the forefront. Jane and Jason have spent their entire careers in experiential education and are both professional gap year consultants accredited by the Gap Year Association. They have demonstrated excellence in the field of gap year counseling and passed all standards for ethical, responsible, and risk-managed advising in gap year education.
Episode Highlights
- What is a gap year?
- Benefits of intentional gap time
- Dispelling the myths about gap experiences
- Gap time is intentional and productive
- Success in college after a gap year (link to supporting data below)
- Gap experiences for neurodiverse and non-traditional learners
- Always start with WHY
- Soft skills development is a huge outcome of any gap experience
- Gap time provides more experiential learning
- Valuable life skills are gained during gap years
- Many gap programs are well suited to support neurodiverse students
- Residential gap programs work well for neurodiverse students
- Full transparency is critical when communicating with gap providers
- Success during gap time when there is a mental health challenge
- Questions that families should ask of gap year providers
- Tips for families who are curious about gap years
- Why connect with J2Guides?
- Mini/short-term experiences can be a great introduction to gap time
- Gap time creates opportunities to rediscover and be inspired