Plans for my year out after I leave college

My main aim is to be able to leave this course with the grades that I would need to have to continue my study at university in later years (either a Merit or Distinction). I aim to take a gap year away from education before furthering my studies. In this year out my number 1 aim to achieve is to take 3 weeks - to a month doing charity work in Nepal. The charity work consists of helping to rebuild schools in the smaller villages of Nepal that have been struck by earthquakes during monsoon season. Completing this trip will enable me to have great life experience, as well as heighten my chances of being accepted into university in the following year. I believe that lots of universities look for things in people who apply likewise to this trip as well as grades.

During the rest of my gap year I hope to do a ski season, my location is yet to be decided however I have a strong idea that the work I complete out there will be as a chalet host, whereby I will be working in hotels as front of house, preparing bed rooms and meals for guests. When I'm not working on this trip my time will be spent on the ski slopes snowboarding.

Taking these trips will give me excellent photo opportunities, also allowing me to build on my already existent portfolio. Even for photographs that are not included in my portfolio, there will be a collection of images to begin my university course.

I can definitely see myself studying either Photography or Media Studies at university once my gap year is over. Having done school, one year of sixth form, to then do a two year level 3 photography college course has been a long time spent in education overall, so I feel the natural thing to do, that will benefit me most is to take a year out and use it to my greatest advantage making sure to see and gain as many experiences as possible. My ideal outcome is to have spent my gap year with both of these trips completed and to then be studying at Brighton or Sussex University.