Why Take a Gap Year?

By: Jasmin S. 

Although gap years between high school and college are not as common in the U.S., they are very popular among students in places like Europe. This may seem surprising to us, but it makes perfect sense why one would choose to take a year off between 12th grade and freshman year of college. After spending four years balancing various extracurriculars, classes, studying, family, part-time jobs, and more, you might feel like jumping right into college is a bit overwhelming. Maybe you need a break from the constant pressure of your classes and tests, or you’re still not sure which major to choose. If this is the case, a gap year might be the perfect solution for you! 

Better Performance in College 

"Gap Year: preparati a viviere l'anno piú bello
della tua vita!" by Viaggio Routard is licensed
under CC BY 2.0

Many parents fear that if their child stops taking classes and going to school, they will become lazy. This is not the case at all. In fact, students who take gap years tend to be more mature than their peers by the time they enter college. According to 2015 research conducted by Temple University in conjunction with Gap Year Association, the six top reported outcomes of a gap year were personal, rather than career or academic-oriented. Ninety-seven percent of alumni who responded indicated that their gap year experience increased their maturity, while 96 percent said it increased their self-confidence (Writers). 

First-year classes in college can actually be easier thanks to your gap year, especially if you take that time to personally acquaint yourself with the courses you plan on taking. You’ll be able to pick up new languages much quicker if you've already spoken with native speakers. Humanities and other courses can also be easier after all those museum and historical landmark visits! 

Living Independently 

Image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay

Whether you choose to travel on your own or with a program, you will learn essential skills like grocery shopping for yourself, budgeting, healthy eating, navigating public transit, etc. All of these skills are crucial for college and adult life in general! If you choose not to work with a program, you can always do a work holiday option. Thereby having the opportunity to not only make money but immerse yourself deeply into another culture for a longer period of time than would be possible if you were merely backpacking. 

Establishing Worldwide Connections 

Image by Voy Zan from Pixabay

One of the best things about taking a gap year is the opportunity to meet new people. Building lifelong friendships with people from various countries can help you navigate unknown places and refine your language-speaking skills, and those friends will likely welcome you with open arms if you return! Learning how to make friends in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people is a skill that will come in handy in college as well. 

Endless Possibilities 

There are a plethora of activities to choose from when it comes to structuring your gap year. There are many ways to stay productive and busy, so there is no need to worry about doing nothing or playing video games in your mom’s basement all day. There is a wide range of possibilities (even on a budget) from backpacking in Asia to landing an internship in a different state. 

No Money, No Problem 

Image by Alex Strachan from Pixabay

A common myth surrounding gap years is that you have to have a lot of money to be able to take a whole year off from school. However, this is not necessarily the case. Some students use gap years as an opportunity to save up money for college and future living expenses. Others may choose to spend their time volunteering abroad with a program that helps cover living costs. That’s right, some programs pay you to take a gap year! Volunteering can help you gain a new perspective on the world. In fact, they can help students give back to their communities throughout their lives. Many gap year students become philanthropists when they are older due to their global perspective. 

Countless Traveling Options 

Image by skeeze from Pixabay

International travel might be your dream, but there are also many exciting places in the Americas you can visit! You could go to Canada and practice your French, an American national park to enjoy nature, Brazil to learn Portuguese, Mexico to eat delicious food, and so much more! Traveling to any new place is an enriching experience that will teach you new things. 

As long as you get out of your comfort zone, try new things, make new friends, and live independently for what’s likely the first time, a gap year will be well worth your time! According to GoOverseas.com, more than 90% of gap year alumni say that their gap year experiences helped them gain respect for other customs and cultures (Perez). 

Keeping It Local 

Image by Bella H. from Pixabay

If you choose to stay at home during your gap year, there are still plenty of options for you! After all, travel can be daunting and not everyone wants to do it. With more and more programs appearing online, you can do all types of jobs remotely! From teaching music to marketing on social media, you will likely be able to find a job that you enjoy, can do online, and can help you save money for college! You can also get involved in your community by volunteering for local organizations. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to learn new skills. Have you been wanting to learn how to play an instrument? How to code? Now is your chance! 

Conclusion 

Overall, taking a gap year, though not common, has numerous benefits. It can help you grow a new set of skills you didn’t know you needed for college, help build a global network of new friends, assist you in choosing the right career, and provide you with experiences that will last a lifetime. If you would like to further research gap years, there are links and resources below to aid you in your search for ideas below. 

Resources for Gap Year Programs 

• The Best Gap Year Programs 
• Gap Year Scholarships and Grants
• How to Find Grants for Your Gap Year
• Ways to Make Money During Your Gap Year 
• What to Do on a Gap Year With No Money 

Works Cited 

“Does Taking a Gap Year Increase the Ceiling for Students?” NYU Steinhardt, 23 June 

2017, counseling.steinhardt.nyu.edu/blog/gap-year-after-high-school/.

Perez, Olivia Christine. “Why You Should Take a Gap Year After High School.” Go 

Overseas, 04 June 2020, 

www.gooverseas.com/blog/why-should-take-gap-year-after-high-school.

Writers, Staff. “Taking a Gap Year: Pros & Cons and How to Apply to College.” 

AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org, AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org, 17 July 2020, 

www.accreditedschoolsonline.org/resources/taking-a-gap-year-before-college/.

A Letter to My Peers

By: Sonia G. 

To all my fellow high schoolers,

Picture by Angelina N.

As we find ourselves preparing for a new school year filled with new adventures, I would like to encourage you to continue to strive for excellence. Continue to push yourself to try new things. Join a new club at your school or better yet, start something that you’ve always wanted to participate in. As a rising junior, I find myself with only a short time left in high school. I have realized that you have to take advantage of every opportunity available. High school is the time to make connections, so take this school year as the time to put yourself out there and meet new people. You should also take this year to experiment in all aspects of your life. Figure out what works for you because the habits that you develop now will influence your physical and mental health in the future. 

While there will be a lot of exciting things to work on this year, I also have some advice for you all. Whatever isn’t working for you, whatever is keeping you from being who you want to be and whatever is holding you back from moving on, push it away. Find what works for you, and eliminate everything else. I always like to refer people to the 90 percent rule, which states that if an item or activity’s rating is less than 90 out of 100, your response should be “no”. I believe that this rule should be used to allow you to purge the negativity from your life. Use this rule to help yourself quit harmful habits and to replace those habits with practices that will help you improve your life. 

When the first day of school arrives, if it hasn’t already, remember to make the most of this year. If you are a rising freshman, know that high school and middle school are vastly different. If you did not enjoy middle school, that does not mean that you won’t enjoy high school. If you didn’t enjoy high school, then try looking at it through a different lens. I believe that with the support from your friends and family, you will be able to make your high school years unforgettable. This school year, eliminate the things that are holding you back, and take advantage of every opportunity that you can to find what gives YOU purpose, a purpose that may be your driving force for long past your high school years. 

The NCVPS Student Research Alliance: A Platform for Innovation

By: Gracie B.

"Photo a day project: December 2005" by Jenny Lee Silver is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

In high school, coursework is often prescribed. Many students fill their schedules with classes to meet graduation requirements or to build impressive resumes for college applications. Their true passions are stifled by excessive academic and extracurricular obligations. Yet, learning becomes more fulfilling and purposeful when it is driven by genuine intellectual curiosity. Exploring one’s own interests is a crucial step towards building a meaningful life and career. This pursuit of self-directed education is at the heart of the NCVPS Student Research Alliance, a new program that empowers students to delve deeply into subjects that captivate them and share their knowledge with peers across North Carolina.

Research internships are notoriously scarce for high school students, especially in non-scientific fields. The NCVPS Student Research Alliance increases the accessibility of academic research opportunities, allowing participants to propose unique inquiries and to direct their own investigations. Student research fellows benefit from collaboration with subject-specific advisors, who help them interpret their findings and refine their reflections. Months of dedicated study culminate in a detailed research paper and an NCVPS Café session, in which the student presents their research to peers and instructors. Specific NCVPS courses serve as springboards for research projects, and students are able to utilize Research Alliance papers and presentations to enrich the content they are learning in class. Research projects are as diverse as their creators. In the 2019 summer program, topics ranged from spacecraft design to abnormal psychology to Baltic history. There is no shortage of creativity and innovation among NCVPS students, and the Student Research Alliance provides a unique avenue to express the ingenuity of online learners.

To be eligible to participate in the Student Research Alliance, students must be in high school and are required to have completed at least one NCVPS course. Participants should also have regular internet access and several hours per week to devote to research. Selection is not based on GPA or academic standing, as the program aims to give all students an equal opportunity to acquire invaluable research and writing skills that will benefit them in college and beyond. Rather, students are chosen based on experience and interest within a particular subject area, which can be demonstrated through achievements inside or outside of the classroom. Students interested in participating in the program will be invited to attend a general information session later in the fall semester to learn more about the application and research processes. Stay tuned for updates on this exciting initiative, and let your NCVPS teacher know if you are interested in becoming involved in one of the many programs the Peer Tutoring Center has to offer.