Gap Years
BY PRIYANKA CHIDAMBARAM '23
Even as the world pauses due to COVID-19, schools have tried to continue graduation celebrations, either through virtual means or postponement. As a momentous occasion for seniors, graduation marks a significant turning point in life. While the traditional student continues to college, others decide to take a sabbatical year before proceeding to higher education. Gap years supposedly give students time to further consider their futures. However, is taking a gap year truly worth it? While gap years allow students to momentarily rest and gain valuable life experiences, they drastically hinder a student’s academic momentum.
In a fast-paced world, it is beneficial to slow down and reflect on the past. High school is not easy, so it’s important to celebrate one’s accomplishments through the four years. Thus, gap years provide the time and opportunity to take a much needed mental break. Studies show that the average high school student shares the same anxiety levels as a psychiatric patient in the 1950s. The break gives students an opportunity to finally relax. Furthermore, it allows individuals time to decide their future paths from both a career and personal perspective. Many expect adolescents to have a clear vision of their future by the time they complete high school, but these expectations place a lot of pressure on them. The gap year alleviates this stress by giving students more time to contemplate and experiment with multiple options.
Moreover, a gap year allows fresh graduates to work and save money for college. College is expensive, and once students graduate, they receive crippling debts that some spend the rest of their life trying to pay off. In addition to earning money, working also adds to one’s CV—a document that lists past achievements for potential employers. While college looks good on a CV, past work experiences relating to the area of work look even better. Those pursuing higher education could use the gap year as a chance to get an internship, gaining both experience and an advantage for job hunting later on.
Still, with the apparent benefits, there are also many factors that could negatively affect one’s gap year. As mentioned, a gap year is an entire year’s worth of time, and students are set back substantially. When time is not used productively, students lose academic momentum. In other words, after twelve years of constant schooling, when one takes a break, it’s easy to lose the motivation to continue. Furthermore, it is expensive to organize and plan for a gap year. The application process also becomes more complex. Gap year students must return to their school to collect test scores, letters of recommendation, and transcripts, making the admissions process much more difficult.
While the decision to take a gap year initially seems simple, one should think long and hard before making a choice. Gap years allow time for self-reflection, maturation, and preparation for the “real world” after college. However, it can also be detrimental for students who do not have a plan. Those who wish to pursue higher education may choose to attend college immediately, while those who wish to travel the world may benefit from a gap year. At the end of the day, it all boils down to preferences and priorities.
In a fast-paced world, it is beneficial to slow down and reflect on the past. High school is not easy, so it’s important to celebrate one’s accomplishments through the four years. Thus, gap years provide the time and opportunity to take a much needed mental break. Studies show that the average high school student shares the same anxiety levels as a psychiatric patient in the 1950s. The break gives students an opportunity to finally relax. Furthermore, it allows individuals time to decide their future paths from both a career and personal perspective. Many expect adolescents to have a clear vision of their future by the time they complete high school, but these expectations place a lot of pressure on them. The gap year alleviates this stress by giving students more time to contemplate and experiment with multiple options.
Moreover, a gap year allows fresh graduates to work and save money for college. College is expensive, and once students graduate, they receive crippling debts that some spend the rest of their life trying to pay off. In addition to earning money, working also adds to one’s CV—a document that lists past achievements for potential employers. While college looks good on a CV, past work experiences relating to the area of work look even better. Those pursuing higher education could use the gap year as a chance to get an internship, gaining both experience and an advantage for job hunting later on.
Still, with the apparent benefits, there are also many factors that could negatively affect one’s gap year. As mentioned, a gap year is an entire year’s worth of time, and students are set back substantially. When time is not used productively, students lose academic momentum. In other words, after twelve years of constant schooling, when one takes a break, it’s easy to lose the motivation to continue. Furthermore, it is expensive to organize and plan for a gap year. The application process also becomes more complex. Gap year students must return to their school to collect test scores, letters of recommendation, and transcripts, making the admissions process much more difficult.
While the decision to take a gap year initially seems simple, one should think long and hard before making a choice. Gap years allow time for self-reflection, maturation, and preparation for the “real world” after college. However, it can also be detrimental for students who do not have a plan. Those who wish to pursue higher education may choose to attend college immediately, while those who wish to travel the world may benefit from a gap year. At the end of the day, it all boils down to preferences and priorities.
