Introducing The Next Generation Of Leaders And Thinkers

A Graduate’s Guide to Taking a Year Off

Many students will be graduating this year in May, and if you’re anything like me, you’re probably stressing about life after high school. First things first, life as an adult can be hard. It’s not something many kids realize until they turn 18, but almost in an instant, your life will change whether you’re prepared or not. My senior year of high school, I made the bold decision to follow my dreams of becoming a journalist. Journalism was something that was attainable, in high demand, and presumably a prestigious career choice. Senior year I also found myself sidetracked by getting my driver’s license, getting my first job and applying to colleges, all while simultaneously keeping my social life.Truth be told, it was never my plan to take a year off from college. It wasn’t until after I had received my acceptance letter and I was packed and ready to move 4 hours away that I had realized that it wasn’t what I truly wanted. It’s important for kids in this generation to realize that they always have a choice when it comes to decisions about their lives, but even more so after high school ends.

If you’re deciding on going to college after high school, do it for yourself. Don’t go to college, spend thousands of dollars on tuition, study and work in your free time unless it’s with your own integrity. If you’re deciding on waiting to go to college and in turn, working to save money or to move out of your parents’ home, here are some tips to help you become more independent and better fit to take on the world single-handedly.

My first tip is to make a savings account. It’s something very simple but also very handy when trying to save money in order to reach whatever goal you may have. Whether it be buying a car, paying rent or saving up for your future tuition, it’s important to make sure that you always have money on you in case of emergencies or just to help you prepare for whatever expenses may happen in the future. When I was 17, I found myself blowing my entire paycheck on food and clothes, when in reality, I could’ve saved most of it. To practice good saving, start by depositing half of your paycheck into your savings account in order to help you stick to your personal allowance.

My second tip would be to try to keep yourself educated, even when you’re no longer in school. If you plan on taking a year off, it’s extremely important that you don’t lose all of the knowledge and skills that you learned in high school. In order to do so, try reading different books or doing math problems in your head instead of reaching for a calculator. This will help to keep your brain active and ultimately help you become better prepared for future classes.

My third and final tip is to stay motivated and to not lose sight of your dream! It’s incredibly easy to turn one year off into two years, which will eventually turn into a decade of avoiding college. Do not allow yourself to become lazy and unmotivated! Constantly focus on your dream and remind yourself what steps you need to take in order to get there. Although you’re still a teenager at this point, I can honestly say it helps to surround yourself with friends who have the same drive and ambition that you have for yourself. That way, it will be much easier to put a spotlight on what really matters to you instead of letting yourself go.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with going or skipping out on college, but if you decide to get the best of both worlds and take a year off, stay motivated. Although I decided to stay in my hometown and take a year off, my dream of being a journalist is still with me and I am actively working on making myself a more credible writer. Graduation is something many kids are excited for, while there are also kids who dread graduating because of all of the newfound responsibilities that come along with it. If you keep these tips in mind it can help you feel less afraid for your future and in turn help you feel more prepared! Enjoy your senior year while you can. 

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