Making the Best Out of a Gap Year by Keara

Making the Best Out of a Gap Year by Keara - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

Transitioning from high school to college can be stressful and overwhelming for many. There's often a sense of urgency that you must go straight to college after high school, but that obviously isn't for everyone. If I made the choice of taking on a gap year in college I would insure that I use the time to work so I have extra cash for finances, explore different career paths to get a broader view of what I want to do after college, and network to build connections and get new opportunities.
College is expensive, finding jobs and employment during school can be a huge help when figuring out how to pay for school expenses and having extra money on the side for yourself. If I was to take a gap year I would take that time to find employment. Since I would be taking a break from school that allows me to have a flexible schedule, making it the perfect time to find an internship for a career I have in mind.
Besides worrying about finances, it's also a great time to explore who you are and what you want to do with your life. We're often pressured to pick a career we want right after high school, but our minds change and there's so many different career paths to choose from. If I was to take a gap year I would use it to explore other careers outside my major that I am also interested in. This can be done through internships, volunteering, or even shadowing/finding a mentor that is in a career field that I'm interested in.
Lastly and probably most importantly when making the decision of taking a gap year, I would take the time to network with professionals in fields I'm interested in. Your never to young to start making connections with people and this would be a great way for me to be introduced to new opportunities. Rather through internships or volunteering, taking the time to introduce myself to professionals I encounter and exposing myself to more people is one step forward to advancing in my career.
So if I was to take a gap year and wanted to make the most out of it to help achieve future goals and career goals I’d take the time to find a job that would hopefully benefit me with experience I can use in the future with my career. Explore different career paths so that I feel confident in the career I choose. And making sure I network because gaining connections means I am putting myself out there for new opportunities.