02 May 10 Reasons Why You Should Take A Gap Year.
Many colleges are actively encouraging students to take a gap year, because by the end of the year the student is usually less burnt out, more mature, more focused and dogmatically determined to continue their personal growth. Taking a gap year can be extremely beneficial. Here are 10 reasons why.
- You’ll do well in every area of college life.
You’ll be well prepared for all the perils that many students face in their first year of college, now that you’ve had the chance to strengthen your academic profile while making life decisions on your own for a whole year.
- You’ll have a clearer understanding of what your passion is before you start studying.
A gap year gives you the opportunity to explore your interest. During that year you’ll be able to eliminate some of the areas you think you’re interested in, or discover interests you never knew you had. The time it takes to find some direction in your gap year will help you save money, effort and yes… most importantly time. In the end, you won’t have to pay to go through the trial and error process during the first year of college.
- You’ll get to experience an array of things in your youth.
There will be no other time in your life when you’re absolutely free from responsibility. At 18 you don’t have to worry about bills, rent, or children! Take advantage of your freedom and travel, read, dance, discover new interests and develop the things your passionate about.
- You’ll gain a real understanding of what is important in this world.
College has the tendency to shelter students for an extra four years, but taking a gap year will allow you to develop a wider perspective so that you’re able to identify true adversity. All of a sudden having a bad date night won’t seem like the end of the world.
- You’ll become more comfortable with change.
Taking a gap year will force you out of your comfort zone. You’ll be faced with task of adapting to a new community, environment and sometimes a new culture. Getting used to the unknown quickly is what you’ll need to adjust to your first year of college.
- Small talk will be easier and more interesting.
Having had exciting and difficult experiences throughout your gap year, you’ll now be able to talk with ease about many different areas of life. Instead of grasping at straws for what to say next, you’ll have an abundance of first hand observations to discuss.
- You’ll have a more impressive resume.
Gap years often involve some measure of work because you have to continue living, and therefore you need to be supported monetarily. No matter what you do to accomplish this you’ll be able to illustrate, at a young age, that you are responsible and able to work with people from any culture.
- You’ll be able to correct some of the errors you made in High School.
If you made a few missteps in high school, such as failing your calculus class, you now have the chance to take that math class over and prove that you’re more than capable of solving any mathematical problem that heads your way. A gap year is the perfect time to refine the skills that you feel you’re lacking.
- You’ll finally have a chance to think!
Right now high school is all consuming and overwhelming, and it’s hard to think when you’re stressed and anxious. A gap year gives you the time to center yourself so that you can figure out your next step.
- You’ll be surrounded by people you wouldn’t normally be around.
As a result of being in a new environment you’ll make new friends with unique perspectives that will really enrich your own as you begin to contemplate.
