Now and Later by Andy

Now and Later by Andy - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

When it comes to a gap year, I am sure that there will be a multitude of answers that will be provided on how one would decided to use it. The gap year can be used as a integral part of a student's collegiate career as it provides flexibility and gives a student the opportunity to develop and grow at their own pace as opposed to jumping right into college when they may not be as well prepared as others. In a society where success can come from competition, a student will want to be sure that they are the most prepared when entering a foreign setting that is college. Given the opportunity to take a gap year, I would divide the year into different phases in order to better suit my needs at the time.
The first phase, which can be broken up into three to four months, will be used to develop myself professionally and ensure that I am keeping myself prepared and malleable to the expectations of the course load I am expected to handle in school as well as what a recruiter from a potential job may look for. During these three to four months I am looking to develop different forms of networking such as ensuring that my Linkedin is well crafted, while reviewing any other traits I may need in order to excel in the classroom. These traits may include brushing up on any coding that may be required, as well as developing a financial spreadsheet that will help me properly budget how I will be handling my expenses throughout my time in school. This phase is incredibly important as it gives me the ability to keep myself mentally prepared for the collegiate work load that will be placed upon me once the time comes. It also gives me a chance to prepare and weather the storm if you will as there are high expectations from a college student and that any actions that can be made that can help make the experience more bearable is definitely appreciated.
The second phase may be of the highest of importance as the next few months will be used to relax. Many people fail to recognize the importance of mental health as a college student and how such a stressful work load can wear a student down mentally. During this phase, I will be taking the time to be with my family more, ensure that the connects I made with my friends are still strong, while also taking time for myself to participate in hobbies I enjoy and take myself on excursions that I personally enjoy such as hiking or trips to the beach. Although this phase does not need to be three to four months long, it is extremely important to ensure that a student takes their time during this phase as it may be difficult to completely detach yourself and feel comfortable with the idea of not working. By using this time to focus on mental health, we are preparing ourselves and ensuring that we are in a much healthier state of mind going into college.
The final phase is what is considered the "jump". The jump is used so that students can familiarize themselves with the college community that they are about to attend in ways such as exploring on campus club opportunities, considering student organizations for professional development or fraternal bonds, or even looking for an on campus job. The jump is crucial for students that are not commuters and are moving onto or near campus as it gives them the chance to assimilate into the community before classes even start. I am sure that there are some students who feel out of place and awkward when first arriving to what will be their "home" for the next few years. By using the last few months of the gap year to assimilate onto campus, you are ensuring that you have familiarized yourself with the community and that you will have a much easier time navigating the community when school is in session.
When it comes to a gap year, there are plenty of ways that a student can decide to use it. Whether it is to find a job and financially prepare for the tuition costs to come, or vacation and relax after what may have been a stressful time in high school, how someone decides to spend their gap year is entirely up to them and should be catered to however they see fit. My gap year plan may work for some and fail for others, but that is the beauty of the gap year, as it is completely what you make of it.