MISCONCEPTIONS OF GAP YEARS

1. YOU’LL FALL BEHIND ACADEMICALLY

I’ll be completely honest and say that this was one of my biggest worries. At first, I worried that I would lose all the knowledge and routine I had developed. I found this not to be the case. Giving my brain time to rest and giving it time to learn new things outside the classroom only made me more mature and responsible once starting college. If anything, I benefitted from it.

2. PEOPLE WHO TAKE GAP YEARS AREN’T SERIOUS

I figured out within the first few months of my gap year that I wanted to go to college, and I very quickly became serious about applying for colleges and figuring out what I wanted to do as a possible career path. A lot of my gap year was me coming up to my old co-workers after my shifts and talking about what might be good schools and career paths for me. It was those moments that reopened my eyes to education and I’m happy I was able to recognize that.

3. A GAP YEAR IS A BLOWOFF YEAR

There was not one second during my gap year that I wasn’t busy with something. If it wasn’t my fulltime job, it was working on my photography website or discovering new hobbies and interests. Most importantly, I was busy working on myself. I used my gap year to learn how to take care of myself, my body, and my mental health. It’s important to learn how to take care of yourself no matter where you go after high school and taking a gap year allowed me to do that.

4. GAP YEARS ARE EASY

I wanted to save this one for last because I really feel it’s arguably the most overlooked aspect of a gap year. Most assume it’s a gap year like a year-long summer vacation when in reality, it’s hard. I was mentally and physically drained, at times burnt out from work, and desperately craving something new. All these struggles helped me to appreciate the life I now have in college. And it is the memory of those struggles that keeps me motivated to stay in college and continue doing well.

In the end, the decision to take a gap year or not is up to the individual. Depending on their circumstances and personal life and career, some may or may not want to take a gap year. I hope that I could provide some insight into how my gap year has had a super positive effect on my life in and outside of college and help debunk some of the myths about gap years.