A topic that could, perhaps, be an attention-getter is one that mentions taking a year off before college as stepping out of the protected world of school into the harsh, real world before going to another controlled setting of the educational environment. Such a title could be Interim from Fantasy Land. Another title could be Climbing Down From the Ivory Tower. (The metaphor of "Ivory Tower" is used for educational institutions which are apart from the practical affairs of the real world.)
- Interim from Fantasy Land
According to Time magazine, studies show that students who take a year's hiatus between high school and college are more mature and more interested in their educations. For one thing, the academic break allows students to rest from such things as
AP classes, tutors, test prep, community-service projects, varsity sports, piano lessons and other extracurricular activities.
While they are in this hiatus from academics, students often travel or work at a job or do volunteer work. In such instances, these students learn about others, what options are available to them, what fields they would like to enter, etc. These experiences, then, assist students in choosing a field in which they would like to major.
- Climbing Down From the Ivory Tower
When students take a year's hiatus, they can eliminate the worry of their choices and actions being recorded on their academic record; they can relax and enjoy their lives. If they work, students glean a realistic perspective on how much a person needs to earn to be comfortable and self-sufficient. They may also learn about others who differ from them and gain some political insights. Taking what is called a "gap-year" often provides experience in the real world.
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