A Year for Growth by Anna

A Year for Growth by Anna - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

What do most people think of when they hear the term “gap year”? Many see it as an opportunity to make money for college, but those who make the most of a gap year have much more to gain from it. A gap year is an opportunity to discover career opportunities and college options, and serving the underserved. If I were to take advantage of an extra year off school, I would use it to do all of these things, not only in an effort to better myself but serve my community.
Although many people take the opportunity to work during their gap year, financial profit is not the only purpose it serves. During a gap year, my focus would be to work in areas related to my interests. It can be easy to fall into doing anything just to save enough for college, but the experience can have just as much as an effect on your future as money. Taking a year off doesn't mean you aren’t getting an education. I am interested in working as a freelance artist/illustrator, so my goal would be to either shadow an artist in the line of work that I'm pursuing, or to find a job or internship in that area. Not only would this provide me with some insight into my future career, but it would also better prepare me for my college courses.
Many people would agree that college is one of the most important times of your life, and the major you choose will affect where you end up in the future. In fact, the reason some students take a gap year is due to the fact that they are not sure what they want to major in. Even if I was one hundred percent sure of what I want to study in college, I would still take the time to research other options. Although most universities allow you to change your major, it is more convenient and stress-free to be set on what you want to do before attending. That way I could be prepared for the classes I take, rather than be forced to switch majors out of disinterest and have no idea what I was getting myself into.
In my opinion, those preparing to attend college spend most of their time focused on themselves. Though it is important to ensure that you are personally prepared for life after high school, it is equally as important to remain connected to others and your community. One of the most important things to do during a gap year for me would be community service projects. If I was given extra time to serve the people around me, I would use it to its full potential. Some do not realize how much their community has already done for them, and giving back is a way of saying thank you. The people I surround myself with and the city I live in raised me into the person I am now, and I would not hesitate to dedicate some of my time back to them.
The future is uncertain, and I am not sure if a gap year is right for me. However, if it is in my future, I would not let that time go to waste. I would take hold of my future by exploring my career and college options, as well as beginning to pursue them. Most importantly, I would give back to the place I call home, working to make the world a better place for everyone before heading off to better myself.