I went round the world

Predicted results: AAA
Acheived results: AAA

Adam Sloan writes...


"There was always some worry in the back of my mind as results day loomed, however generally I tried to stay relaxed and just take it all in my stride. I think the whole time was somewhat easier for me than many of my friends in that I didn't have a university place that was dependant on my exam results. I had already decided to only apply after my gap year. Having said that though I had a fairly clear idea in my mind of where I wanted to go and the grades that I would need to get for that course.

Even not taking into account university places or anything, I was worried because I knew that with me leaving in January, I may not get a chance for any re-takes. I kept on thinking about the two years of A levels and how they were all essentially building up to this moment and the contents of the brown envelope that would be handed to me.

I was predicted three A grades. My coursework I felt would boost up my marks and also my AS results were high so that would count in my favour. I kept on telling myself that as long as I gained an A grade in Politics, the subject I would apply to study at university, I would be happy, but I know really that I would have been disappointed with anything less than what I was predicted.

We filed into the main lecture theatre at college where cartons of A4 sized brown envelopes were waiting at the front. I was quite close to the front of the line so luckily I didn't witness people jumping up and down or being commiserated by friends and staff members before I actually got my results. I thought I would wait for my friends and conduct a kind of mass opening but looking at everyone dashing out I knew there was no way that was going to happen, I kind of wanted this moment on my own. I ducked around a corner and emptied out the contents of the envelope, a huge burst of energy running through me when I found out I had indeed achieved the A grades I had been predicted.

My plan had always been to take a gap year. I spent the months between results day and departure day working seven days a week to save up for my trip. It was fairly tough, but completely worthwhile. I was a bit down for a while when everyone left for university and I was carrying on in my nine to five job for months to come.

I left the UK in January for South Africa, where I spent a week in Cape Town with my father. In February,  I started an overland trip up to Victoria Falls, spending about two weeks in Namibia and also going through Botswana before arriving on the Zambian side of the falls. After Victoria Falls I flew on to Perth, Western Australia and spent the next couple of months travelling in Australia. My route through Australia took me from Perth across to Adelaide, up the middle to Ayers Rock and Alice Springs, further up through the middle to the northern port city of Darwin, across the prairies and through the tropics to Cairns and finally down the East Coast to Sydney. My next destination was New Zealand where I spent ten days hiking on the North Island and then about two weeks travelling on the South Island. Following that I spent four weeks diving in the Fiji Islands before making my way across Canada.

My advice to those getting their exam results this year is to always remember that universities have been around for hundreds of years and will continue to be around for hundreds of years, meaning if you aren't 100% sure about where you want to go or what you want to do, there really is no rush. You are only at this time in your life once. The period between finishing A levels and starting university is really the only time where you have nothing tying you down, no career, no job, no family, no debt therefore perfect time to pack up and jet off for a few months."




Click here >> for more on round the world flights
Click here >> for Adam's round the world diary
Click here >> for all gap year placements still available