If there is anything I have learned by researching gap years, it's that they are not a vacation. When most people think of gap years, they imagine teenagers goofing off and lounging around during that time. However, I have come to find that most students take their gap years very seriously. They spend their time volunteering and helping the community. Although they may travel to another country, they are still usually working and learning. While I am sure there are some students that don't take this time seriously, they are few and far between.