When Barack Obama’s youngest daughter, Malia Obama, decided that she was going to take a gap year once she graduated, America found itself in uproar. For many American parents the idea of a gap year doesn't seem like the smartest decision to make. The negative outlook towards taking time off between high school and college is not unique to the United States, however, it appears to be most prevalent here.
Gap years have traditionally been more common in Europe and countries like Australia and Israel, however, the practice has recently become more common in the United States. Although the country has a system that encourages and perpetuates the practice of going from high school to college, millennials seem to be finding interest in the idea of a gap year for the purpose of self-discovery at a time in their lives that will allows them to be youthful and gain the necessary insight into whatever it is their ambitions and passions might be. This, naturally, offers the opportunity to truly pursue something that they have a strong love and passion for rather than pursuing something out of obligation.
Recently, universities and colleges around the country have been encouraging of gap year and study abroad programs. Harvard University for example, the institution that Malia Obama will attend beginning in fall 2017, actually encourages students to take a gap year, stating that between 80 - 110 freshman who enroll each year have done so. Many institutions have begun endorsing the practice due to the benefits it results in. A gap year offers students a brief escape from academic pressure, allows them an opportunity at a real world perspective and results in them being more focused on their intentions as they've had the time to clarify their goals and orient themselves to them.
Why, then, are American parents so reluctant of the practice as opposed to parents elsewhere? According to an article published by Slate Magazine the demographics between students that take gap years and those who do not exposes a very obvious disparity: socioeconomic status. According to the article, students who completed a survey that was featured in a gap-year report had parents that were college educated and came from families with estimated household incomes of more than $100,000 a year. The article concludes that as a result, gap years tend to be more common among students who are already positioned for success.
A gap year tends to be an expensive experience because it entails travel and living expenses and splurging on the cultural experiences that come with living in a new country. Therefore, in order to successfully have a gap year, students need a parent or caretaker who is able to foot the bill.
That said, gap years don't need to be as expensive as they tend to be, but the resources for achieving one at a low cost are not easily available to everyone or lack visibility. Programs like WWOOF that link volunteers and travelers to organic farmers and growers aid in diminishing the monetary burden that is often associated with a gap year. WWOOF is an exchange that allows volunteers to live and work in an area with no monetary payment, but instead get food, accommodation and opportunities to learn in exchange.
When considering the monetary aspect of the endeavor it becomes evident as to why so many people remain reluctant to the practice. However, the nature of the American Dream and the career-driven rat-race of it also key in. Not only are parents fearful of their children losing out on one year of their academic careers, they also tend to be fearful of their children lagging behind their peers.
Nonetheless, questioning the importance of a gap year resonates similarly to questioning the relevance of needing time to oneself. The two tend to be one in the same as students who opt for a gap year are often in search of self, new adventure or freedom and these are journeys we all need to take. Sure, our lives do not offer us an infinite abundance of time, however, it is important to remember that there is always enough time to breathe, explore and discover; because although those are not classroom based, they tend to offer more insight and knowledge into the world than a classroom ever could.
