As with most high school seniors, a lot of my days leading up to graduation were spent thinking about college--well, kind of. Before I even began my senior year I already had my mind made up that I wouldn't be going to college. I wasn't overwhelmed by the idea like most seniors are, I just couldn't see how it would be beneficial to me immediately after high school. Taking a gap year wasn't exactly what I had planned to do, instead it was more like firmly knowing that I wasn't ready to leave for college... so I didn't fret about it.

Once school had started and we were a few months into it, I was still not very enthused about the idea of going off to college. It seemed too mainstream for me to go immediately after high school and I've always been a little bit against "Society's Predetermined Path of Life". There was no real pressure from my family to choose anything as they'd always encouraged independence since I was a child but I could tell they were anxious about me making the wrong decision.

By spring I had acrimoniously decided on going to a local community college for general education credits. Despite my displeasure with going off to college, I still loved to learn and I had acknowledged that I would be somewhat lost without school. It was the best decision for me. It turned out well despite a few negative aspects that came with it.

Now I'm in my junior year at UW-Eau Claire and with my future fast-approaching, I've taken a few minutes to look back on my life and see what my biggest regrets have been. The one that tops the list? Not taking a gap year. There are some days where I feel that everything is moving too fast, like I was never given a substantial amount of time to slow down and think about myself. I think a gap year would have provided me with this time and I regret not taking one.

Here are five reasons why you should take a gap year before college.

1. You Don't Know What You Want To Major In

Some kids have their whole lives planned out from start to finish, including what career path they're going to take. The rest of us? Ehh... maybe not so much. Let's look at it from this angle: You're 18-years-old with very little experience in the real world. TV shows can present very misleading ideas about career fields and even though they look glamorous, you won't really know until you try it out. Granted, college is a place for you to try things out but taking a gap year will give you more time to do this as well as discover what you're passionate about (debt-free, I might add!).

2. College Might Not Be For You (Yet)

Not everyone is meant to sit at a desk and learn. Despite my passion for learning, I realize that not everyone is as enthused about lectures as I am. So what's the point in spending thousands of dollars for something you aren't even going to enjoy? You've gone to school for twelve years already, maybe you're due for a break. Take a gap year to work or travel or do whatever you want until you decide you're ready to jump back in with ambition. And if you decide college isn't for you? That's cool too. Take the time you need to figure things out!

3. College Is Expensive

But you knew that already. It's only just a few thousands of dollars a year though, no big deal, right? College is going to be expensive no matter what but it's especially expensive if you have no idea what you want to major in or if you're just there to party. Also, as I said, you might not be ready for college yet. If you are really sick of sitting in a classroom, it might be a better option for you to take a year to work or travel. What's the point in spending thousands of dollars to drop out after a year or two anyway? Save yourself the hassle and do what's best for you based on what you know about yourself.

4. You Can Take Classes At A Community College Or Tech School

Say you're not entirely ready to leave for college but you do want to take some credits to keep you in the "school mindset": community college or tech school is for you! It's a much cheaper option than spending your money on a university where you'd have to pay for a meal plan, room and board, etc. You can decide how many credits you want to take and balance school with work while you figure things out. Plus, you can take classes online, so you don't have to sit in a lecture hall if you don't want to! It's not exactly a gap year but you can still be in college with a more lax setting if you want to stay in the school loop. You can pay for your classes out-of-pocket, live at home (if you want) and still technically be in college. It's a good option if you only want to take three to six credits while you fill your days with work or adventures.

5. A Gap Year Allows You to Get Your Head On Your Shoulders

All in all, taking a year off before you go to college allows you to get your head on straight. Let's be honest, you were never allowed a sufficient amount of time between birth and your introduction into adulthood to take the time to think about what you want to do with your life. School was priority and often times there was little room for thinking about your future. A gap year (or even just a semester) gives you the time as an adult to seriously consider how you want your life to be played out. Do some research, traveling, adventuring and try new things to see where you fit. Find what makes you happy. Take this time to see what your strengths are and which of those strengths and/or passions make you excited. It's essentially a homework-free time in which you can see a larger scope of the world, so why not take the opportunity while it's there? Don't get to junior year and realize you regret not taking the chance when you had it. Take a gap year.