The Great Gap Year

I have recently graduated college (like, less than two weeks ago recent). Since the celebration has ended, my family has left town, my cap and gown have been hung up, and I can finally stop answering the dreaded question of “What’s next?”

I think there is an insurmountable amount of pressure for college students to have an exact plan of what’s next. I also think it’s completely unreasonable to expect college graduates to have a plan. I am a big advocate of taking things at your own pace, doing things for yourself, and shattering other people’s expectations. However, even with that mindset, I have found that it is most helpful to still have some form of an answer when people ask you what your post-grad plan is.

So, I present to you, the gap year.

Taking a gap year was only a conversation for some time, but then the more I discussed it, the more it made sense. My plan is to eventually go back to school, but I knew there was absolutely no way I would survive jumping into a Master’s program right after completing my Bachelor’s. I knew I wouldn’t have been able to handle finishing senior year while preparing for graduate school. I couldn’t be fully present and prepare for the future at the same time. I also knew I was on the brink of burnout, and wanted to be excited about continuing my education, not dreading it. So, reason after reason piled up, making taking a gap year that much more attractive.

My gap year is going to be filled with traveling, making and saving money, but most importantly, taking time for myself.

For anyone who is on the fence about a gap year, is unsure what to do after college graduation, or is just in need of a break, consider taking time off.

As long as you have a plan, taking time off (whether that be for a few months or a whole year) is something that everyone deserves. Everyone deserves a time-out, a breather, and an escape. You can have a time to figure out what exactly is going to come next. You don’t have to have everything figured out.