It is often argued that a gap year allows students to go travelling without restriction before entering the workforce or university to pursue a large amount of higher education, whereas others say that this travelling is costly and time-consuming. This essay will first closely examine both viewpoints before concluding that I agree with the former.
On the one hand, it is understandable why some people propose that taking a gap year can grant a variety of opportunities for self-discovery. Students are likely to discover their personal passions by exploring different cultures, traditions, customs ,which noticeably broaden their perspectives.For example, students in the United States tend to immerse themselves in various cultures before joining university, enabling them to alleviate psychological stress significantly.As a result, a number of students returning from their holidays consequently feel more focused on their studies and motivated to perform well academically.
On the other hand, opponents of taking a gap year might also add that it is an extreme waste of time and costly, which undermines some students’ academic performance, even beyond the financial means of some families. Though travelling promotes emotional balance, it can create inequality between wealthy families and those who cannot take such opportunities, causing self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy among peers at school. Moreover, some students may encounter difficulties in returning to their study, as they are acquainted with going on holiday for a long time, leading to the lost of academic momentum.
In my opinion, a gap year can be mentally beneficial for well-being if students take advantage of it with a clear and purposeful plan. One should bear in mind that travelling, albeit expensive, is an effective way for students to recover from mental exhaustion In conclusion, although a gap year may lead to the loss of educational attainment and inequality for favourable environment, its advantages outweigh the disadvantages when wielded wisely.