I know what they say. Parents, teachers, coaches, older siblings -- essentially any authority figure in your life. In high school, they tell you to work hard to get into college. In college, they tell you work even harder to attend a prestigious graduate school or get recruited by the best company. And while there is nothing wrong with achieving these goals, whether we set them for ourselves or they're encouraged by our parents, what are the options for those who don't want to take the "usual" route? What if you aren't sure college is right for you, or you have no idea what kind of career you want to pursue?
In high school, I was that uncertain person. I enjoyed school and got good grades, but my true passion lay in ballet. Every afternoon, I took the train from my home in the suburbs to downtown Chicago, where I would practice for four hours before returning home around 10 p.m. I wanted to be a professional dancer, but I also knew that attending college provided a lot of benefits (such as a more stable career) that dance does not. Therefore, my senior year of high school I applied to college, but also auditioned for trainee programs with various ballet companies. I ultimately landed a spot in the Joffrey Ballet's Trainee Program and chose, with much deliberation, to defer my admission to college.
Very few at my high school had done something like this, and while some commended my decision, others criticized it. People questioned how I would decide to attend college or continue dancing once my gap year was over -- and to be honest, I had no clue. No. Clue. And while I was okay with that, it seemed to be some foreign concept to others.
At first, I couldn't understand why people were shocked by my decision. Now, I have a theory: for most of our lives we've been taught to plan for and anticipate the future, which ultimately leads us to go with the safest option. If you're always thinking about what can go wrong, why would you ever want to take a risk? For many, the safe option is following the widely advertised concept that you must attend college directly after high school. For the rest of us, the right choice may be waiting a year, or two, or maybe not going at all. It's up to you, and as long as you love what you are doing, everything will work out, despite what the doubters say.
So here is my advice for those who wish to take a different path: do it! Don't hesitate to follow your passion or your greater instincts. I'm a wiser person because of my gap year experiences. I feel more confident about the direction I'm taking. And although I still don't know where I'll end up after college (let's be real, I'm only a freshman), I know that whatever I decide to do, that choice will be right.
