The British Practice of Taking a Break Between Secondary School and Higher Education

So, we graduate high school and go off to college to begin another four years schooling because that's what we're taught throughout the course of our life, right? Most who don't attend college after high school are often looked down upon because they're not "following the rules". Then, there are those who decide to take a year off after high school to begin a journey that will change them for the better.

A gap year is the appropriate term in this case. According to the Oxford dictionary, the proper definition of a gap year is, "A period, typically an academic year, taken by a student as a break between secondary school and higher education." In this essay, I want to go over how teens in the U.S will be affected if they adopt the British custom and take gap year between high school and college.

Gap years in the United States are just now being grasped. It's roots are based in Europe, specifically in England, where they are common and actually recommended; even Prince William took a gap year before attending St. Andrews University (Smith). According to the American Gap Association, more than seventy-five percent of individuals are more "happy" or "extremely satisfied" with their careers post university. We often attend college unable to decide what we want to major in due to no experience at all. We major in what we think we want to do but only end up hurting ourselves in the long run by working a job we don't enjoy.

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I got the chance to interview Jane Sessner, a professional gap year counselor, on Skype through the Center For Interim Programs, a website that is dedicated to finding the right program for each student whether it be volunteering, internships, or language schools abroad. The opportunities on what you could do during a gap year are endless.

According to Sessner, this is a great way to build a resume. Learning a new language, discovering what career to pursue, traveling abroad, learning about a new culture and custom, volunteering and helping the community are all great starts to taking a gap year. She says that many students choose to visit countries that they know they will never go to in the future; this often provides them with inspiration, different perspectives, broadens their outlooks, and helps them to understand the diversity of the world they live in on a deeper level. I personally wish I could go back in time and travel an exotic country before I start another four years of schooling. I've always wanted to go to Brazil and I look back now and think to myself that it really wouldn't hurt if I actually went for it and took that gap year that I so badly deserved.

It seems as if many teenagers these days still rely on their parents for a lot of things when they go off to college. Material things aren't as important as personal growth. It takes away from their sense of responsibility and how to organize their life to a greater extent. Parke Muth, a veteran college admissions consultant who spent nearly three decades in the University of Virginia's admissions office, makes the argument that the best investment you can make in your kid's college education might be to delay that education.

"Parents have been chauffeurs and secretaries for their kids all their lives, so kids tend to have a rough adjustment period when they head off to college," he says. "But taking a gap year is the antidote to helicopter parenting." I agree with Muth. A gap year allows kids to develop the maturity, independence, and self-reliance needed in order to be successful in college. "Taking a Gap Year is a great opportunity for young people to broaden their horizons, making them more mature and responsible citizens. Our society can only benefit from travel which promotes character, confidence, and decision-making skills" (American Gap Association)

It can be argued that taking a gap year is just a waste of time and money, but that's not always the case. Most full year gap programs cost about 10,000 to 15,000 dollars, which is the same as just one year of college (Sarahoun). Taking a gap year can also help you pay for college if you decide not to go anywhere or participate in any programs. Some students like to take that time to apply for scholarships that way they're prepared and ready to go after a year off. Gap years also make us into better individuals because of the experiences we come across. "Gap year students tend to own their college and learning experiences, as a result, they get far more out of the time, energy, and money they invest in college" (Smith)

Taking a year off is a perfect opportunity to see the world and feel completely free of daily routines, troubles, assignments they are able make new friends around the world, find inspiration, and dedicate time to introspect about their own behavior. I know this because all of my friends who did take gap years just so happen to share all of these same qualities and I truly do envy them for it. I encourage anyone and everyone to take a gap year and find themselves.

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