Could a gap year be right for you?

As someone whose practice is built on helping students go on to 4-year colleges where they will thrive and ultimately lead lives of meaning, it is my job to help my clients who want this opportunity to consider the many paths they may take to get there. Yes. there are many paths, and sometimes it’s not a direct path right out of high school. 

I share this as I dig more deeply into what it means to be college-ready. When I send someone off to college, I want them to feel confident that they are truly ready to get the most out of their experience and will thrive while there. For a variety of reasons, though, they may not be there -  not yet. 

Not being ready for 4-year college at the end of high school is something we don’t talk about often enough in the United States. We often consider a straight path to be the best way to maintain one’s academic momentum and gain entry into the workforce at a higher pay scale. But this thinking feels flawed to me; it doesn’t take into consideration the many life circumstances that one encounters along their unique path.

I have met with an increasing number of high school students who report feeling stressed and anxious due to the academic and social pressures that surround them daily. These students may seem fine on the outside, but inside they are struggling. For years they have led highly structured lives with little time for pure joy and time to pursue their authentic interests. They’re tired, even burnt out. Going to college three months after graduating high school may not be the answer for all of them. Some may need other experiences to become refueled.

Then there are their peers who need a bit more time to develop. They seem young for their years and for different reasons don’t show the readiness to head off to college. They truly need the gift of time and the opportunities to build self-confidence and to problem-solve more independently. 

Still, others haven’t quite ever loved academics and haven’t fully applied themselves. Their grades don’t reflect their true abilities, and they are unclear on what they want to pursue in college. They just seem to be going through the motions. 

None of this feels good for these students. When they openly share what is on their mind, for many, the prospect of heading off to college upon graduating high school feels too exhausting, too overwhelming, or just simply doing school again. 

I have seen what one gains when given the opportunity to regroup, take an academic pause, explore the world in new ways, or engage in work, volunteering, and activities that hold specific meaning and interest. I am excited for those students who feel and are ready for a direct path to college; I am equally excited for those who feel they might benefit from the gift of a structured gap year.

Let the college years, whenever they come, be filled with purpose, excitement, and desire. Take time to consider your right path.