Though not traditionally part of the Bermudian teen experience, the gap year — the year between finishing high school and entering university — is becoming more popular.

Emily Ross, who graduated from the Bermuda High School's International Baccalaureate programme in 2008, really wanted a break.

"I worked really hard in school," she explained, " and the thought of going straight into university was really stressful.

"I wanted a chance to travel, which would be much harder to do after university."

Those who don't set off for university immediately upon graduating have traditionally been seen as "either messed up and needing to sort out some issues or never intending to go back to school," Emily admitted.

But rather than setting her back, the year off has actually helped her focus more clearly on a career path. "I wanted initially to study languages at university, but because of my gap year, I've changed my mind. I enjoy Spanish, but not for formal study. I've had time to work at FOCUS, a programme for addicts in recovery.

"Over a period of six months I spent time observing at the Drug Court, and watching really did help me in choosing my [university] course.

"I have decided to study Social Policy with Law. It involves the study of contemporary society, and I'm looking at a career in parole and probation."

Emily applied for deferred entry at the University of Bristol in the UK.

Deferred entry is something Emily recommended, "because you don't have to go through the stress of applying [to university] through your gap year".

And changing courses was not such a big deal. "It happens a lot," Emily explained, "and the university was very flexible. There was a lot of back and forth by e-mail, but I was able to do it in a day."

So what exactly has she done with her time?

From graduation until October, she worked in Corporate Banking at Bank of Bermuda, which helped with her organisational skills, but left her convinced "I'm not suited to office work."

She wanted to do something "completely out of my comfort zone", and online research led her to the website for Projects Abroad, an organisation for overseas volunteer work placements for gap years, career breaks and summer placements.

Through them she found a volunteer opportunity with a conservation project at a nature reserve on the South Africa-Botswana border in the autumn (South African spring).

Her month on the nature reserve on the Limpopo River "was like being in the middle of a nature documentary".

It was a "tourist-free zone", so she and the other volunteers were on their own surrounded by nature — which felt rather strange for someone coming from densely populated Bermuda.

Work included improving the campsite, clearing tracks and digging new water holes for the animals.

"Now I know how to use a machete in case I ever need to," Emily remarked with a grin.

For something completely different, she went with the same organisation to Peru in February. For a month she volunteered at a summer school in Calca, a small village in the Sacred Valley.

She lived with a family of four (and a visiting cousin) rather than with other volunteers, and taught a little English, Art and PE to primary schoolchildren.

Back in Bermuda, Emily easily found a job working as a cocktail waitress at Latin where she continues to enjoy using her Spanish.

An evening job suits her just fine, as it leaves her days free for going to the beach. A talented musician, she also plays with her mum, Kate Ross, at weddings.

Because the volunteer opportunities actually cost money, she's now happy to stay put and earn some cash, and look forward to university in October.

www.projectsabroad.co.uk