Gap Year, Should You Take It?

You’ve probably heard about the ‘Gap Year’, or a period wherein a student usually takes a year off before stepping into the university. In most cases, the practice is frowned upon. Some people think that deliberately leaving school in the meantime is a waste of money and effort. However, some cultures are more welcoming to the idea, considering its benefits.

Teaches You Practical Skills 

When we say ‘gap year’, this doesn’t mean that you will spend time at home, lounging on your couch and do practically nothing. It’s a time you expose yourself to what real life is. 

More often than not, those who just graduated from high school tend to be sheltered. And believe it or not, college life can be rough. In fact, studies show that a lot of college students experience anxiety and depression brought by a sudden change of environment. They are not adequately prepared for independence, and that’s what you get to learn from a gap year. 

You can do several things during this time. For one, you can look for a job. Feel what it’s like to be working. From there, you can learn how to manage your finances and be more responsible in many different aspects of life. Others are taking informal classes and workshops for personality development. This is useful when you step into college. After all, it is where you start building your network, and a honed personality is always an advantage. 

Gives You Time to Reflect and Gain Clarity On Your Life’s Purpose

One of the reasons why many people who study or work easily get disappointed is because they don’t understand their purpose. They just do things because it’s what society tells us to do. But living a life without clarity will eventually have a toll either on your physical or mental health. 

A gap year can help avoid this from happening. People who take the year off usually travel to various places and experience different cultures. They learn things which cannot be found from textbooks. Their perspective is much wider compared to people of the same age. And because of that, they realize early on what they need to do, what they are capable of, and where they can use their abilities to improve not only themselves but the lives of the people they meet. 

You Don’t See Grades as a Motivation 

Normally, a college student would have a common short-term goal – and that’s to graduate. For others, they want to take it up a notch higher by aiming for an excellent GPA. These are reasonable goals. But for people who decided to take a gap year, going to college is more than just grades. It’s about the real learnings which they can apply once they go back to the real world and take more responsibilities. 

And while they don’t see grades as a motivation to study, most students who took a gap year generally perform better in school. They even have higher GPAs than most of their schoolmates. This is not surprising considering all the discipline they have formed through their expedition. 

Sounds like an adventure, doesn’t it? But before you jump into a life-changing decision, you must also consider the cons of taking a gap year. 

You Lose Academic Momentum 

In some cases, those who tried working during their year off do not see the need to go back to school. Since they are already earning, their priorities have changed as well. 

Waste of Time and Money  

Just to be clear, you are only wasting your time and money if you don’t use your gap year wisely. You must plan and execute these plans once you are back in school, and after you’ve finished your degree. In fact, most employers see a person with a well-spent gap year as an asset to the company. It shows maturity and discipline. 

Maybe you are thinking right now, is it for you? Or would you rather enroll yourself right away and not let go of the momentum. The answer depends on your priorities and how much you are willing to risk. 

We cannot say that taking a gap year is for everyone. But if you are determined to use the time off to your advantage, then we say go for it. At the end of the day, whatever you decided to do, make the most out of it. If you don’t, then that’s what you consider a waste.