Many people decide to take a gap year after graduating high school for a variety of reasons. This includes working, traveling or simply figuring out what to do next. While these are all valid goals, I believe they can be achieved while attending college without losing an entire year of progress.
The four years spent in high school are meant to prepare us for college and everything that comes with it. Before each school year, I remember reviewing course selections that were designed to match a wide range of career pathways. This gave me the opportunity to start thinking about my future as early as freshman year. The more challenging AP courses I’m taking now, as a senior, are meant to mimic college-level classes and prepare me for the academic expectations ahead. Through these classes and various extracurricular clubs, I was able to explore different interests, which made choosing colleges and deciding on a major much easier.
In theory, taking a gap year might sound appealing, but I think it would make returning to school even harder. Every year, after winter break, I find it difficult to get back into the school routine, and that’s just after two weeks off. I imagine it would be even more challenging to return to academics after a full year away from school. A summer break after senior year seems like a reasonable and good pause before starting college. It gives students time to relax without losing their momentum.
Traveling during the school year is already hard because of missed classes and assignments. I try to avoid missing school since it can be overwhelming to catch up. That’s why vacations are best planned during school breaks. In college, winter breaks are often three to four weeks long. This is plenty of time for students to travel, rest or pursue other opportunities. These breaks can also be used for internships or part-time work.
Working to save money is another common reason students consider a gap year, and while that’s reasonable, part-time jobs can also be done during college. Balancing work and school is an important life skill, and many students already start learning it in high school. Managing both teaches time management which is a skill that becomes even more important in college, where students need to balance academics, activities and their social lives.
In the end, I believe taking a gap year can set students behind. High school is the time to prepare for the next step, to make a plan and move forward. With all of the resources and assistance in high school and college, there is enough guidance to continue to grow and learn without a gap year.
