The number of high school graduates taking a gap year is on the rise. While there are certain drawbacks, including high costs incurred on parents and loss of academic momentum, to this practice, these are outweighed by the benefits like the chance to gain experience and identify career goals.
There are clear drawabacks to taking a gap year. The first one is high costs some parents have to shoulder to finance their children’s trips. This is because overseas air tickets cost a huge amount, and in the event of potential structured programs such as those in camps, the costs mount and work out to a huge sum. Even more worrying one is the potential loss of academic momentum. Being away for a year from studies, college-bound students might find it difficult to continue their studies. In extreme cases, they might even decide to not go to college at all, which might not be the most reasonable decision.
These downsides notwithstanding, I firmly believe taking a gap year benefits students in two main ways. A year-long break is usually, when managed correctly, can be a period of growth since students take on various jobs and engage in different kinds of voluntary programs. These experiences help them grow and give them a sense of meaning before they continue their studies. Additionally, more importantly, they can identify what kind of career they want to pursue. During this break, they can apply for jobs that are related to their potential majors and see if they actually like that profession. In most cases, doing so allows the students to clarify their goals.
In conclusion, although taking a gap year entails several downsides, such as financial troubles and loss of academic momentum, they are not as great as the upsides, which include clarity achieved as far as academic goals are concerned and the individual growth seen in those who take a gap year.