Undeniably, a big question on whether high school graduates should take a year off before entering college or not has been a topic of discussion for the past few years. There have been many views from different groups of people including professionals, teachers, parents and even students. Some of the views support the fact that high school graduates should take a year off before entering college while others oppose the debate. The two groups, however, have their own reasons that support either the opposition or the proposition. This paper is going to focus on the reasons why high school graduates should take a year off before entering college
According to the College Access & Opportunity Guide, (2010) immediately after graduating from high school, students are usually excited about joining college and making their careers. However, it has never been an easy task to find a college that students need according the course they want to do as well as many other factors. In most cases, the excitement that high school graduates usually have after graduating from high school confuses them thus they do not settle for one college. High school graduates should, therefore, take a year off before entering college to allow them enough time to search and find their dream colleges or at least the colleges that offer the courses they want to major in (Schoem, 29).
Additionally, deciding on what to major in is also another reason, why high school graduates should take a year off before entering college. Many high school graduates usually do not have any idea on what they want to major in, and, therefore, they need a year gap to help them know what exactly they want to become in future; hence decide on a major. During the time when student take a one year break from school, some of them use their time well in trying to discover their talents and hobbies, which in turn guide them to what they would like to do as their career. Those students, who have a hard time deciding on they major, undergo counseling, which also helps them decide on their major (Toby 36).
Undeniably, college fee is extremely expensive for some parents and guardians. Therefore, high school graduates should take a year off before entering college to allow their parent or guardian enough time to raise college fee. Taking a child through high school in itself is very expensive, and some parents and guardians are not usually in a position to continue paying for college fee. The year gap gives them time to come up with other project to raise money for their child’s college fee. In some cases, students themselves undertake some jobs as a way trying to save for their college fee (College Access & Opportunity Guide, 24). There are other method that may help the student to acquire college fee may include application for loans of help from people with good will. Such applications may take a long time especially where legal processes are involved and; therefore, high school graduates should take a year off before entering college to allow for such processes.
Giving back to the society is crucial because it not only enriches the student’s resume, but it also provides them with relevant skills. Allowing high school graduates a year off before entering college should be encouraged to allow students time to take part in voluntary services and community work (Toby, 56). Voluntary work and community services enable students to acquire valuable skills such as communication skill, interacting with other people and working together as a team. Nonetheless, students are also able to give back to the society where they have grown and at the same time get significant experience or even earn some extra money.
Contrary, opponents argue that high school graduates should not take a year off before entering college because of several reasons, which includes the fact that they believe taking a year gap, is wastage of time. This group of people argues that when students graduate from high school, they should take the least time possible before they join college (Dennis, 47). They argue that students fresh from high school, still have the morale to study; hence they do well in their college studies, they believe that taking a whole year from school they may end up engaging in bad activities such as drugs and premarital sex hence get swayed from education. Additionally, they argue that when high school graduates get jobs during the one year that they are out of school, they money earn a lot of money which will make then contented and lose the desire to join college. Such jobs may push them to postponing joining college until it actually becomes “too late” for them to join college.
In conclusion, it is evident that the question on whether high school graduates should take a year off before entering college, has been a topic of debate for several years now. There are people who support the debate but there another small group of people who oppose the motion. However, the people for the idea that high school graduates should take a year off before entering college are more than the one against. Additionally the ones for the debate have strong reasons, which include the fact that taking a gap year help the student to relax and rejuvenate their energy, as well as, explore other out of class activities, which they never had an opportunity to explore before finishing their high school studies. The gap year also allows the parents or guardians of the students enough time to raise college fee because, globally known, college fee is very expensive. It is, therefore, important that high school graduates take a year off before entering college because of the above mentioned reasons and many more.
Works Cited
Dennis, Jeanne G. Homeschooling High School: Planning Ahead for College Admission. Lynwood, WA: Emerald Books, 2004. Print.
Schoem, David L. College Knowledge: 101 Tips for the College-Bound Student. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2005. Print.
Toby, Jackson. The Lowering of Higher Education in America: Why Student Loans Should Be Based on Credit Worthiness. New Brunswick, N.J: Transaction Publishers, 2012. Print.
