My Dream Gap Year by Madison

My Dream Gap Year by Madison - August 2019 Scholarship Essay

College can be extremely terrifying so of course a gap year is something that is appealing to everyone. When you really think about the idea of a 4 year college or university it is a big commitment. At the age of 18 you are expected to make a sensible decision on where to attend school based on costs, location, availability of majors, etc. Speaking of availability of majors, who at 18 has a clue on what they want the rest of their life to look like? The answer is slim to none. Therefore, a gap year would be one last hooray before committing yourself to years of debt. Personally speaking, I would make the absolute most of that gap year.

I would explore all of my options throughout this year, especially if I was unsure on what I wanted to do for a career option. Instead of just laying around, and relaxing like it was a year long summer break, I would go out and take odd jobs. Jobs that I normally would never do, or that normally would not encompass any of my interests. Who knows throughout those jobs, you might find an unexpected love for something, and can make a career out of that! Along with those jobs I would travel and just spend time with myself. It is important for a person to know themselves, and alone time is something I cannot recommend enough. In college it is hard to get time for just you considering you are in an extremely small space that you have to share with a stranger. Do not get me wrong, my freshman year roommate and I are best friends, and everything worked out, but the first couple of weeks were extremely uncomfortable. Throughout my two years of dorm living now, I have come to appreciate the value of alone time.

These are the most formative years of a persons life, and taking a gap year would be an amazing experience. Speaking as someone who jumped straight into thinking I was an adult, i would have loved to have taken a year to get to know myself as a person, as well as learn what it is like to be an adult. That is something else they do not tell you when you are applying for colleges. How much "adulting" you will have to do without any previous experience. Every single 18 year old is cocky and ready to be out on their own, but then once you actually are, it is a lot of work. There is nobody there to hold you responsible or to tell you to get off the couch and do your homework. College can be a rude awakening for some people, so if I took a gap year I would make it the most legendary gap year filled with different jobs in different cities, with some nights to just myself.