In recent years, whether young adults should take a gap year after graduating high school has become a controversial topic. Some advocate the gap year provides young adults the chance to gain invaluable experiences before stepping into university while some argue that it is a waste of time. This essay discusses the pros and cons of taking a gap year.
One positive development for young adults to take a gap year is to explore their own interest so to choose the most suitable subjects for them when continuing their studies in university. Due to the lack of knowledge regarding career planning, many young adults often choose their subjects to study in universities based on parents’ expectations and salaries, neglecting their own interests. This leads to the phenomenon that many students choose to drop out of university and choose another career path as they are not interested in studying their subjects in university. Take my sister as an example, she took a gap year and tried several jobs, she not only enhanced communication skills with others but also found her passion in arts. Thanks to the gap year, she could build up network with different parties, helping her to find the best career option which she likes and showcases her talent. In addition, taking a gap year also provides opportunities for young adults to hone skills that are crucial for workplace. Through gaining experiences during the gap year, young adults can learn techniques for example communication and leadership skills, helping them to ace their positions in the workplace.
Every coin has two sides, although some thinks taking a gap year is beneficial, it also has its drawbacks. To start with, some young adults may spend their gap year without clear targets, wasting their time and missing out opportunities which helps them with their career. This makes transition back to school life harder as they may lose confidence when lacking behind studying with younger peers. Furthermore, it is also a huge expense for some families when young adults plan to travel during their gap year. For example, some may plan travelling to different countries for months, expenses for food, housing and local experiences. These may take up huge amount of the family income and cause financial burden to families.
In conclusion, taking a gap year has its benefits and drawbacks. Whether one should take a gap year depends on their ability and what they target on. Therefore, it is crucial for one to plan carefully and set up clear goals before taking a gap year, hoping to seize opportunities to equip themselves before getting into the workplace.