Mind the Gap

I visited London earlier this year. Part of my initiation into British culture included this fabulous trend known as a “gap year.” A gap year is a year-long gap between high school and university. Sometimes, this year is set aside for civil service, volunteer work, or other humanitarian pursuits. Prince William served in Belize during his gap year.

I am not suggesting the government institute a mandatory gap year of civil service for U.S. students, even though I not adversely opposed to the idea. The idea of taking a year off from school is not an immediately popular one in the States. The truth is we don’t trust our youth to make mature decisions regarding their young adult life. What if they slough off college and never go? I propose this question. What if we send our young adults immediately into college--do not pass go or collect 200 dollars--and they drop out of college altogether before the year’s end?

I am also not suggesting our young adults fritter away their gap year following meaningless pursuits, partying, or sitting around the house doing nothing. I think giving them the option to explore the world around them and truly see the human condition will add another perspective to the college experience. Eighteen-year-old novice adults are still relatively impressionable and phenomenally confused about the direction of their lives. After all, college is one part academics and two parts finding oneself in the larger picture of society. If taking a gap year gives some sort of perspective to their life, I am a large supporter.

Part of the problem lies with our educational system. We don’t make it easy for students to consider a variety of options. I am a fan of alternative scholarship opportunities. Low-income first-generation students who may have missed the mark on standardized test scores, non-traditionals returning to school after several years, and high school graduates who choose to spend a year backpacking Europe are denied the monetary benefits scholarships afford. I have even advised my own stepchildren that if they should receive a scholarship to immediately enroll in college the following Fall, lest the college renege on its offer, considering deferments are rarely given.

One of my students, who incidentally would be very embarrassed that I’m using her as an example, spent a year as a missionary to an underdeveloped country. The university that offered her a scholarship agreed to a deferment. In the end, she decided to change universities to a program that had a higher international student population, better medical and international studies programs, and plans to dedicate her life to medical missions. She was not only academically prepared, but she was also more emotionally mature than most of my other freshmen.  Above all else, she was grateful for the opportunity to have what the people she helped could never dream of having. Her brother has decided to pursue the path.

I won’t belittle the importance of financial assistance. College is expensive. But if your high school graduate is uncertain about college and desires to pursue a noble interest in helping others and contributing to society, I think the option of taking a gap year should be discussed.