Mission & PurposeSchools

Gap yearwith purpose: a DTS

If you have just finished high school and are not sure what to study, a DTS can be a way to use that time to know God, know yourself and serve others.

By the YWAM Cáceres team

A gap year with purpose is not a wasted year: it is time you choose to grow before making big decisions. If you have just finished high school and are not sure what to study, or you simply feel you need a pause before university, doing a DTS can be one of the best ways to use that time.

Does taking a year before university make sense?

In many countries the pressure is to go straight from school to a degree without stopping to breathe. For some people that works. Others arrive at university without really knowing why they are there, pick a course by elimination or to meet someone else's expectations, and realise it halfway through.

Taking time out does not mean standing still. The difference is how you use it. An aimless year can leave you exactly where you started. A year with purpose can give you something no class can teach: knowing who you are, what you value and where you want to go.

What does a DTS offer at this stage?

The DTS (Discipleship Training School) is Youth With A Mission's entry-level school. At YWAM Cáceres it lasts five months: three in Cáceres and two on a mission outreach. For someone fresh out of high school, it offers several things at once:

• A faith of your own. Many young people grow up in church with their parents' faith. A DTS is space for that faith to become personal: knowing God, hearing His voice and reading the Bible for yourself.
• Clarity about your identity and gifts. One of the core themes of the school is understanding who you are in God, what gifts you have and what your calling might be.
• Practical maturity. Living in community, sharing housework, working through conflict and adapting to people from other cultures helps you grow up fast.
• International experience. The DTS in Cáceres is bilingual, English and Spanish, and outreach takes you to serve in another culture.
• Real service. You do not just learn about mission, you live it, in the city and on outreach.

Does a DTS fit the academic calendar?

The next school, the Genesis Lab DTS, runs from January 24 to June 25, 2027. It finishes before the summer, so in many cases you could still start university the following academic year.

That said, every country and university has its own application and enrolment deadlines. Before you decide, check the dates that apply to you and whether you can defer a place. Planning ahead avoids nasty surprises.

You need to be over 18, a Christian and able to speak English or Spanish.

How to talk to your parents about it

It is normal for your family to have questions, or even fears. A few ideas to help the conversation go well:

• Come with information. Dates, fees, where you will live, what a typical day looks like. The more concrete, the more reassuring.
• Explain the why, not just the what. Tell them what you are looking for and what you hope God will do in you.
• Listen to their concerns. They are often right about something, and responding calmly shows the very maturity you want to grow in.
• Talk about a plan for afterwards. Knowing you have thought about university or your next step often brings a lot of peace.

The Bible encourages us to honour our father and mother (Ephesians 6:2). That does not mean they will always see things your way, but it is worth bringing them into the process.

What to consider before you decide

A DTS is not a holiday or a spiritual retreat. It involves commitment, house guidelines and a real financial investment: €100 registration, €3,000 for the lecture phase and €2,000 to €3,500 for outreach, not including visa or health insurance. Many students raise part of that with support from their church, family and friends.

You will also need to prepare your application: your personal form, a reference from your pastor or leader, and one from a mature Christian friend who knows you well.

And after the DTS?

There is no single path. Some go home and start university with fresh motivation. Others discover they want to study something different from what they had planned. Others sense a call to keep serving in missions for a while. What matters is that your next decision grows out of a deeper relationship with God and a better understanding of yourself.

If you are at that point of wondering what to do with your life, our article on how to discover your calling may help too.