As some of you know, I'm currently a senior in high school, and also fifteen. Up until about a week ago, I'd been pretty set on just going to college at sixteen, but a couple of my friends have mentioned the possibility of taking a gap year, and it got me thinking about taking one. I'm not exactly sure what I would do (Americorps? Get a job? Study on my own? Travel?), but the prospect has an undeniable attraction.
If any of you took gap years, what were they like? What did you do? Were they valuable experiences? If you could make the decision again, would you do the same thing?
PS Gap year
I wouldn't recommend it. It seems to me that people who take a gap year usually have a difficult time readjusting to an academic setting. I've seen several of them drop out our crack under the pressure. That said, I don't know what it would be like in your situation, and if it might be a better option than going to college so young. Do you think you're ready for college? If you are, I would recommend starting now instead of later. On the other hand, if you think you're not ready or there's something valuable you can gain on your gap year, that might be the right decision. But since you don't really know what you would do during a gap year, I highly recommend you come up with a solid plan before deciding on a gap. You don't want to wind up just waiting for the year to end and school to start.
Really. It was a fucking heinous time. - picked my sister, whom I wasn't speaking to, up from jail twice - had a friend a year younger than me released into my recognizance pending trial - failed to score with a 17-year-old burnout - spent 90+ hours a week working on cars - listened to nothing but country and industrial - ran 8 plus miles a day, ate nothing, got down to 137 lbs (I'm 6') I desperately needed out, and I was desperately trapped. My metabolism is still fucked. You know you're not right in the head when you run 8 miles a day and don't eat. For three days. You even know it in your head, but you don't know it. You know?
I wish I had. Blew my first and only chance at Ole Miss. Too many drugs and girls, not enough study. Classic story. I didn't flunk out but I got in enough trouble I had to quit anyways. Serves me right I guess. I had given zero thought to what I wanted in life. You have no business going to college just because it's the next thing to do. If you have a goal in mind then yeah go for it. If you're anything like I was? Get a shitty job and live on your own awhile before you play your hand. A year or two to grow outside your high school bubble does wonders to your perception. Whatever. Wish you the best! It's rough out there.
Thanks. That sucks about your experience. Did you ever end up getting a degree? My dad has a similar story, he dropped out of SMU and worked a shit grocery store job for a couple years, and eventually made it to manager. But then he realized he didn't want to be a manager for the rest of his life, so he went back to school and ended up with a Masters in environmental science.