On my way to the Umphree Lee Dining Hall on September 24, 2008, for a bite to eat after a long and exhausting chemistry class, I happened to catch a glimpse of a headline on the cover of The Daily Campus that read, “Taking a year off.” My curiosity for the topic, given I had taken a year off between high school and college, drove me to investigate further.
The article by Sommer Saadi described how there is a growing interest among students who decide to take year off from school, and some of the advantages from it. Some advantages include a year’s worth of experience living in society, and a better understanding for the world around them without the demands of school. In addition, students hopefully will be able to narrow their decisions about intended career paths and gain a better appreciation for the maturity and responsibility that comes with being an adult. This comes at an important time given that tuition for college continues to get more expensive, and students are taking longer to finish their undergraduate degrees. The year off can certainly help undecided students narrow their interests without the cost of more semesters of college to do the same. Karl Haigler, co-author of “The Gap Year Advantage” believes that the year can have quite an impact on attitudes of students, including behaviors and skills. Students will have a better appreciation for what life will demand from them, and thus will hopefully have a greater focus when they return to school. In my opinion, these statements could not have been more correct in my case.
Upon my graduation from high school in 2007, I made the decision to take a year deferment from Southern Methodist University to pursue personal interests. What I was about to undertake was, without doubt, one of the greatest maturing experiences of my life. The summer of 2007 was very important because I was the frontrunner for the presidential position of an international 31,000+ member youth organization called the American Quarter Horse Youth Association. If elected, my duties would take me around the country, and potentially world, visiting enthusiastic youth members, bolstering excitement for new programs, and representing the American Quarter Horse Breed. In June of that summer, I was fortunate to be elected president. For one year, I travelled the country, talking to youth interested in horses, carrying out nation-wide community service projects and ultimately, gaining the experience of a lifetime. As I look back now, the experience in communication skills and maturity that I obtained from my deferment were worth every minute away from the classroom. I made connections with people from all over the world. However, my activities for the year did not solely include the Presidency.
Ever since I was born, I have grown up on a farm with horses. My passion for competing began early as I got my start at state 4-H competitions, riding and showing. In 2000, I began to train and ride with a quarter horse trainer from Indiana. I broadened my competition horizons to now national quarter horse events, a different league of competition from 4-H. For 8 years I competed as a youth, building a hard-working reputation as a great showman. Upon taking a year off from school in 2007, I also made the decision that I was going to hold a job in the time that I was not fulfilling duties of my presidency. I was hired as assistant to my trainer, riding and breaking horses for clients from all over the country. 7 days a week from 8 in the morning until well beyond 5 in the evening, I was riding horses, travelling the country for shows, giving lessons, and fulfilling my love for the sport. In my position, I learned how vital responsibility is throughout your work. Driving a seven-horse trailer across the country with close to, if not over, a million dollars in value of horses demands nothing less than your full attention and maturity.
My experience with the gap year was not about whether or not I wanted to become a horse trainer, but rather a lesson in growth and maturity that will only further my development into an adult. It helped me to gain experience in communication, and make connections with people from around the country that I can use later in life. To me, the benefits I gained are now greatly vital to my success as a student. To anyone considering a year off, I would strongly recommend this alternative. The experience and practical skills I acquired have helped me realize the importance of staying committed to my studies in school when distractions are so prevalent. I am glad that The Daily Campus has published this piece so that more students consider this alternative that will only help them in the future.
2 comments:
What a fantastic and rare opportunity for this "gap" year. I wonder if those who are less fortunate--those who'd have to work at the local grocery store or minimum wage job--would also benefit from taking a year off schooling. Is deferring college entrance an option reserved for the "wealthy" only? (read "wealthy" as those who can't afford not to work a unspecialized full-time job)
i can appriciate the idea of leaving school for a year or differing for a year mostly because ive juggled with this thought for some time. being a dancer , i tend to have this burning urge to jump right into my carrer and leave school behind. after reading your experience, ill give this idea a second thought. thank you
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