Taking a year gap between the high school and the university has become a popular option amongst many young students. This time off provides a break after many years of formal study, some use this time to travel; others volunteer and still some begin working. Although all of these have clear benefits for students on different levels, the drawbacks also cannot be overlooked.
The benefits of taking one year off are plenty. Firstly, students who travel away from home environment would probably develop independence and self-confidence on personal level. Secondly, living in a foreign country enables students to explore different cultures, traditions and view points and this would make their mind broader in the future. Thirdly, when these students work they get professional experience because they get a taste of diverse work places and this practical experience will help them to choose possible career interest. Also they might save some money that would support them in further education.
Nevertheless, there are also some disadvantages involved in taking such long break. The main drawback is that student might forget some essential knowledge such as physics and mathematics which is usually needed in the university and they could lose the good study habits and discipline. Consequently, they might face some difficulties when they come back to the university. Moreover, students could be deceived by the money that s/he might earn. As a result, some would think that completion the university education is not really necessarily as long as the money is available. Those usually discontinue the learning process and end up losing the right tract.
In conclusion, taking a gap year is an individual decision. Although there are some obvious advantages on personal as well as professional levels, the disadvantages of forgetting essential science and even discontinuation of studying cannot be ignored as drawbacks.