By Cassidy Lee

Staff Writer

   After 4 years of treacherous amounts of homework, Advanced Placement (AP)  tests, and dreadful teachers, high school seniors are posed with the decision of whether to pursue their educational careers straight out of high school, or to take a gap year. Taking a year off for transition has proven beneficial to students success. Therefore, students should take a gap year before entering college.     

   Gap years have become increasingly popular in the United States. However, prior to this, gap years are considered the norm in other countries such as the United Kingdom and Australia. 

   According to the Huffington Post, “Harvard College has seen a 33 percent increase in the number of their incoming students taking gap years.”  

     Taking gap years can be a positive influence on a students future college career. They also help to improve social skills and encourage students to become more independent, as they search for jobs or travel abroad.   

   According to Forbes Magazine, “Gap years helped develop students socially (98%) and increase maturity (97%).”

    Many colleges and universities heavily encourage students to take advantage of traveling and studying abroad. Travel benefits students because it opens up their horizons to new adventures. Traveling abroad can also help to improve a students language fluency. 

    “Students who have taken a gap year actually improved their grades,” stated Education First, an international education company. “Taking a break, finding your career path and starting school refreshed, focused, and full of motivation can work wonders on performance.

   Gap years also help students avoid academic burnout. Throughout high school students fall under an enormous amount of pressure and stress to choose their careers and perform well in school. However, the stress that students are under can have its ramifications. Taking a gap year allows students to break free of that pressure, as well as encourage students to take time to find out what they want to do and are passionate about.

   The Washington Post stated, “People skills and emotional intelligence are all the rage when it comes to employability: They look stunning on a resume, so the more you have, the more you will stand out.”

   From the beginning of their high school careers, students are faced with pressure from parents, stress from schoolwork, and the difficult decision of choosing a college and career path to pursue. However, gap years give students the opportunity to find themselves and their passions, as well give students a break from the rigorous path that was high school. Gap years have shown significant levels of success and achievement for students and their journey to college afterwards, therefore, all students should be encouraged to take a gap year.