Taking a “gap
year
” off between high
school
and
university
has become a popular option among many young people. Some students use
this
time
to travel around the world, others volunteer and still others begin working. I personally believe
this
tendency has both positive and negative effects which will be discussed below.
On the one hand, spending a
year
working or travelling is beneficial for students in some ways.
First
of all, travelling or working helps the youth get practical experience which they can hardly get from the formal training in
school
. Students who travel away from home develop their independence and self-confidence. During the
time
going outside, they have good chances to meet more people, visit historical places or find interesting jobs that provide them with life experience, knowledge of culture, customs or tradition.
Besides
, learners can have
time
to reduce their stress to prepare for a completely new environment in
university
.
For instance
, students after studying for a long period, get a break to relax psychologically and physically.
Lastly
, having a gap
year
before you enter college will give you a chance to make long-lasting friendships. These buddies are not only great due to their social aspect, but they can
also
become powerful business contacts in the future.
However
, students may face some obstacles if they decide to take a
year
to break between high
school
graduation and
university
courses. The
first
disadvantage is that taking a gap
year
could be challenging for students. They may have to work and live independently without parents’ care, and
therefore
might feel homesick and miss their relatives and families.
Additionally
, those who decide to work or travel to overseas can face culture shock and language barrier due to different traditional cultures and nationalities. Culture shock is one of the most common challenges you will encounter when you adjust to live in a new country. You are advised to practice speaking gradually so that the local people will understand what you are trying to tell them. In some cases, they may
also
lose interest in the study. Due to the lack of study
time
, some students may not remember their lessons even though they might have been good students before.
Hence
, when coming back to
school
, they may be left behind, and
therefore
have no motivation to keep on studying.
In conclusion, it is true these days that many high
school
leavers choose to start their work or take a trip before going to
university
. While a gap
year
can bring some immediate drawbacks, I am convinced that it is more likely to have long-term benefits for their lives.