With nearly half of college students never graduating, taking a gap year could have a positive impact on the life of any college-bound student (Borders, 2014) . You may be wondering what exactly a gap year is. A gap year is typically the period after high school and before college when a person decides to take some time to explore an area of ​​interest. A gap year doesn't have to be a full year or directly after high school. It’s simply time away from school. This idea was first popularized in Europe, but is slowly making its way to the United States. The number of things you can do during your gap year is limitless, as long as you use your time it can help you in many ways. When defining a gap year, you may find yourself with a few additional questions. Is this good for me? What can I gain by doing this? What should I do about college? Well, first of all, a gap year can benefit anyone in one way or another. Every individual is different, but if you work hard enough at something, good will come out of it. Gail Reardon, gap year advisor, said: “The name implies that students are taking a gap in their education, when in reality the gap is about filling in what they didn't learn at school. A gap year is about what happens after school, how you make decisions, how you determine who you are, where you want to go, and how you should get there. It’s about the set of skills you need to live your life” (Kern, 2010). This year is not for those who are simply lazy and tired of school. It is for those who desire something that they have not yet received in their life. The common myth that those who take a gap year will end up not going to college is this. fake. Out of college... middle of paper... this all time in your future. With all the things you can do during your gap year, it's no wonder there are more and more of them. people entertain the idea of ​​taking a gap year. The programs are growing in popularity and can help answer questions and give advice to anyone. Additionally, colleges are embracing the idea. Some of the finest universities in the United States, like Princeton and Harvard, operate their own gap programs so they know their future students are prepared. The transition, of course, can be difficult for anyone starting out with a year out of school. However, if the individual is willing to work hard enough and focus enough, they will succeed. A gap year can be scary, but there can be something enjoyable about the unknown. It’s an adventure with many benefits. Now might be a better time than ever to grow maturely with a gap year.