For me, I think of possibilities—an endless amount.
While having the world at one’s fingertips is undoubtedly a privilege, it can also be overwhelming: what to do next? Where to go? What major to choose? I hope I don’t choose the wrong avenue. Oh boy, what if I do? Then what? Ahh, I feel like I have to decide RIGHT NOW!
At this pivotal stage in life, many young people may feel pressured to secure their next move right away, to pick one thing and stick with it; however, if a decision as monumental as “what to do with my life next?” is rushed, this could result in a missed opportunity to expand one’s perspective of the world and themselves in it.
While it has been a popular practice in Australia, Canada, and Europe for quite some time, it hasn’t been until recently that young adults in the United States have started to explore this avenue for themselves. In fact, American students taking a gap year after high school has been on an increasingly upward trend over the last several years.