Across the globe, the younger generation tends to procrastinate studying at university after graduating from school. Some people argue that this contributes to personal development, while others maintain that this is only a waste of time which leaves the young behind. In my opinion, a gap year would be beneficial if only used for the right activities, such as working part-time, attending social events, and so on.
On the one hand, taking a gap year after finishing school can be helpful in two cases. Firstly, in the modern world, studying in school is challenging. Students are required to work hard even though they don’t have an interest in the subject. This situation heightens psychological pressure, leading to burnout. In addition, parents also tend to put pressure on their children. After 10 years of school under pressure, students become completely exhausted. A one-year gap helps them to unwind and relax. Secondly, using that free time for social activities would undeniably allow graduates to prepare for the social environment in university. Socializing with new people – especially if they are the same age – undeniably influences their personal development in a positive way.
On the other hand, there are negative sides to not applying to university after graduation. One of these drawbacks is forgetting the knowledge they learned in school. This results in difficulties in the first year of university. Students need to relearn the subjects they learned in school; therefore, they waste more time. Laziness is also one of the issues. Without studying for one year, students lose their determination and become lazy, which makes preparing for university even harder.
In my view, the advantages of taking a gap year outweigh the disadvantages, because not being socially ready for university can affect students’ studies as well as their reputation.
In conclusion, although taking a gap year has its disadvantages, if that gap year is used efficiently, it can contribute to a student’s social and personal life. Therefore, delaying university by one year is a rational choice.