Young people today are confronted with the difficult choice of taking a gap year or continuing directly to their higher studies once they obtain their high school diploma. In this essay, we will discuss how a gap year can be advantageous in providing a wider range of career options and how taking a year off from their academic studies can be a drawback.
Firstly, some students are attracted by the idea of taking a gap year in order to spend time with their family, explore different hobbies, or gain experience by working or selling products. For instance, my aunt, who, when she was eighteen, couldn’t finance her studies, chose to work at McDonald’s to earn enough money. She ended up loving the workplace, and now at 36, she is the assistant director of the most popular McDonald’s in the city, raising her two sons in the comfort of a beautiful one-hundred-fifty-square-meter apartment. Moreover, individuals can change dramatically during this time, altering their perception of the world and developing new areas of interest. For example, I’ll cite Bob Halley, a popular mountain climber who was initially an aspiring medical major. He participated in a climbing trip to Orlando Mountain to celebrate the end of high school with his classmates. This moment was a turning point in Bob’s future, leading him to become one of the few who successfully climbed Mount Everest.
However, taking a gap year after high school graduation is a risky choice. In Morocco, for example, recent graduates are generally more advantaged than those who take a gap year, as they often face lower acceptance rates to prestigious universities. In fact, they may need to work harder than regular candidates to secure a spot. Furthermore, those who take a gap year might lack motivation, potentially leading to dropout.
In conclusion, taking a gap year has both benefits and drawbacks, depending on the individuals and their aspirations. They could choose to pursue a two-year community college program to enter a prestigious university or explore unconventional interests. Ultimately, it all comes down to the students’ goals and perceptions.