I think it's safe to say we all need a break from school. For some reason though, it's a big taboo to take a semester off. People will tell you that you're just wasting time and you won't have the motivation to get back in the game. I beg to differ! These are just a few reason why you should go ahead and take that semester off!
1. Treat Yo' Self!
We all need to give ourselves a break. We have been on the same gain-train since we were four! That's 16 or more years of doing the same thing, day-in and day-out. It's maybe time to hop of for a little while and take in the scenery. There are many opportunities to do it other than your hometown; so why not see some new faces and places?
2. Bye-Bye Baby!
Taking a semester off makes you mature and grow up. You are not nagged at by anyone to show up somewhere on time every day and you won't necessarily be a one-minute walk from class. Or be able to wear those owl pajama pants because you're too lazy to change. You're forced to get yourself where you need to be on time and in proper attire; that is if you're working.
3. HELLO WORLD!
You get to explore your surrounding and maybe a cool new place. This opens the door for a lot of experiences you won't have at school. It also looks really good on a resume that you've done something productive with your youth.
4. It's all about that moolah, baby.
Hello!! You can be paid to take an internship; or find a cool job! Not only will you have the ability to make more money, but you also don't have to give it all to the financial aid department as soon as you earn it! That means, saving for your wedding, house, brand new car, or even better a vacation somewhere awesome! And with you still being in college, you can get plenty of student rates that are cheaper; so you get to spend more of that hard earned direct deposit.
5. Find Yourself.
Rachel Greene has a point; if all of your life you've been told to do one particular thing, that's probably what you're going to major in. But what if that's not really what you should be? You now have the time to figure that out without burrowing yourself deeper into one major. You can also figure out what you want most out of life and how you are going to get there. I think this is the most valuable aspect of taking a semester off. They say you "find yourself" in college, but all I see around me are 20-somethings finding themselves six deep in a natty light case; trying to find an Uber to get them home or to the next party.
6. Cup of Coffee Called Life
There's nothing more energizing than waking up with a purpose. We all sleep through those 8 a.m.'s and we all skip those 3 p.m.'s. But you can't do that when it comes to the real world. When you take time to do something meaningful, whether mentally or just to your wallet; you usually find a larger purpose in life. Finding that purpose can really motivate us to keep going and finish what we started or to start fresh.
7. No Kids, No Spouse, No House, No Problems.
If you don't have anything that is dependent on you; why not pack up and get the heck out of dodge? There's never going to be a better time in your life to go somewhere other than right now. You're young, you're free, and you'll never have this chance again. So you might want to take it.
8. Adaptation is Not Instinctual.
There's a reason our parents tell us we are either going to sink or swim. We aren't made to naturally adapt, we have to learn to do it. It'll be a lot easier now, than in 10 years when you have kids or get married.
It's ultimately up to you and whether or not you can get back on the wagon when the time comes. But from one college student to another, you should always take in the scenery and go for the ride. You never know where you might end up.
