What Would You Do With a Gap Year?

I've been helping some eighth graders with classic literature and linear equations. I've been doing this during the last six months. I'm inclined to pursue a BA English degree, but there are second thoughts. I won't deny that fame and fortune were my initial reasons (for wanting to study literature), but volunteering made me wonder if I would be lucky in authorship. I'm also interested in mathematics. A distant relative received his BS Mathematics degree, which he called the best moment of his life. He never considered an academic career, as he took his time in evaluating his career options. (He ended up in finance.) My father advised me to think it through carefully, as my enthusiasm on a certain subject doesn't mean that I would like to do it for the rest of my life. I never imagined a gap year as a difficult stage in my (young) life, which my old man corrected me. (It should be a crossroad.) For this reason, I wasn't looking forward to Tony's e-mails.

My friend was based in Venezuela, taking part in an ecotourism project. This was his good excuse to set foot on the Canaima National Park. (The Angel Falls was on his bucket list.) Chris, his older brother, inspired him to volunteer in another country. (Chris was burned out from the corporate job. A friend of his told him about a teaching job in Thailand. He was having a great time in Phuket.) I didn't want to leave home, so traveling was out of the question. But there were moments when I was green with envy.

I was told that there was a gradual rise in a number of teenage students who wanted to take a year off between high school and college. Gap year, as they called it. They wanted to think about their career options, and volunteering might give them an idea (of what to study in the university). I could imagine Tony partying every weekend, even on certain weeknights. If you ask me, a gap year could be beneficial in the long run. I would cite three reasons:

I don't want to make a hasty decision. I was one of hundreds, if not thousands, of teenage students who remained undecided after getting a high school diploma. As I pointed out a while ago, I have to make a major decision sooner or later. Teenagers don't like to be forced (unless there was something for them). I won't be one of those students who would change my course at the university. But I might be speaking too soon.

I'm waiting for my big break. Not that the summer season wasn't long enough, but I wondered what was it like not to follow a schedule. There were days when I didn't want to rise from my bed (after waking up before 7 AM). I'm aware that I won't be living this kind of life for long, but I don't want to count the days. Yet.

Volunteering might provide me with something. It can be a new skill or two, it may be an extension of my network. I haven't thought about my resume, but I may compose one soon.

I got an e-mail. I bet Tony would tell me his latest adventure.