Malia Obama has decided to take a gap year and now the rest of America is finally catching on to this beautiful opportunity. I took a gap year in the 2014-2015 academic year between high school and college. My gap year was the best decision I have ever made. Taking a gap year wasn't something I had always planned on doing but, around my junior year of high school, I was having breakdowns because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life still but I knew that it was going to be specific. So, in one of my tantrums my dad mentioned I could do volunteer work instead. This concept of not going to college right away was one that I had not explored and had honestly not even considered, this is because the idea of a gap year had been relatively unheard of. And when I finally did decide this was something I wanted to do I heard the same things whispered to me over and over again about gap years. These common misconceptions and myths about gap years keep a lot of people from taking them, which is a shame. So, I thought I'd write some common myths and misconceptions I've heard and I'm going to try to do a little debunking for you.

1. "Doesn't that mean you haven't really planned for the future?" "What are you even going to do?" "Lucky, you get to relax for a year. I wish I had time to do that but I have to worry about my future success."

One big myth about gap years is that they're taken on by people who have no plan, or that they are only a "year to relax." But in my case, this was completely untrue and in many others as well. I am a planner. I have rough plans that could last me the next 10 years easily. I also am extremely independent and a do-er, as in I can't just sit around and enjoy life, I have to be experiencing it somehow. So when people say a gap year is a year to relax I always find that really funny. I may not have been in school and I was having fun but my gap year was far from relaxing. Your gap year doesn't mean you have to be doing nothing. And it doesn't have to be unplanned. I started planning my gap year when everyone else was planning their first year of college would look like. I actually used my gap year to help plan for the future. I used my experiences to help figure out what I want to do with my life and now, unlike most people I know, I am fully confident about what I am going into and how I want to spend the rest of my life. This has, and will, help me to be more successful in my future because I am passionate about the work I am going to do and because I have had real life experiences that I can put on my resume.

2. "Oh, you won't actually go back to college."

I heard this over and over again about how when one takes a gap year they won't actually go back to school, but that simply isn't true. Someone who doesn't go back to school after a gap year was never going to go back to school anytime in the first place. The only reason people think this is because of the fact that gap years are so unheard of, so the people right now that aren't going straight to college aren't going back, but those people aren't taking gap years, they're just not going to college. Don't confuse the two. They are both perfectly fine options but not going to college and gap years are two totally different things, one is more permanent while the other is much more a temporary holding off. In fact, people taking gap years often go back more ready to tackle school with more vigor for learning. That's because many people use gap years to figure out more about themselves, to seek what other opportunities are in the world, figure out what kind of work they are interested in going into, and it does give a nice break from the schooling system to be excited about education again rather than cynical about another long year stacked on to all the others.

3. "So, are you rich?" "Sorry, but my mommy and daddy can't afford to send me backpacking through Europe."

No. Just no. 1) Europe isn't the only place in the world. There is nothing wrong with backpacking Europe but don't limit yourself to thinking that's the only option. I went to India for 5 months and had the best time of my life, Europe is cool but that's not the experience I wanted. You can think broader than that. Plus places like South America and South East Asia are less expensive to travel through. 2) I am far from rich and I knew if I was going to do the volunteer work over seas like I wanted to then I would be paying my own way. So, I worked a part-time job during my senior year and saved part of the money for a plane ticket. Yes, I had to make sacrifices, I didn't always get to go out to eat with my friends or have the cutest, newest clothes but I got a ticket! And I knew I would still need money for spending, so I decided to spend my first half of my gap year working a full-time job to save up the money, and gained some real work ethic. A gap year is a long period of time and it's OK if you are worried about money to use part of that year to gain money for your experience. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. And that's a great opportunity to work on personal things like cleaning your room, going to the gym, and again, work ethic while you're working full-time. It is hard to see all your friends going to college while you're stuck at home working but that's why it's good to have a plan so you have something to look forward to when you get the money you need.

4. "Wow, I didn't know people actually did that. Interesting."

Yes, lots of people all over the world do this. It's actually a very common practice for kids from places like Europe and Australia to pack their bags and head out for a year of experiences, it's only in America that we have created this stigma around gap years. In many other countries, gap years are actually very encouraged by not only student's families but also by universities and teachers as well. I met many people from all over the world on gap years when I was on mine. It also is becoming much more popular with Americans now that travel is something that is becoming more accessible and because of trendsetters like Malia. Don't be intimidated by thinking you're the only one that will be doing it at a school, maybe you'll even set some trends yourself. My year of high school ended up having many people take gap years, this wasn't because of me but it was because it was something that was actually being discussed.

5. "So are you going with a gap year program like EF College Breaks or the Peace Corps?"

You do not have to travel like this. These are freaking expensive. If that's what you want to do that's fine but there are so many other options. I wrote another post about good starting points to look at for planning a trip that could be useful for figuring out what you want to do. And as far as the Peace Corps, good luck getting in without any real qualifications. Again, don't limit yourself to the options that are advertised in your face on a constant basis when there are so many other options out there.

6. "That's not very safe, is it?"

We have all heard the statistics on rape on college campuses. We have all heard about people getting mugged on campuses. We hear the news about shootings. Yes, there are problems in other countries too but since when did America become the safest country? Actually, many other countries have lower crime ratings than us. And yes, we still live in a world where we unfortunately have to take precautions and think about certain things but there's a million blogs with safety tips on travel and generally, if you think before you act and try to be cautious you'll be fine. Of course, that's not a perfect method but there's not a perfect one for being safe in the U.S. either, but that doesn't mean we should live in a box. There are bad people wherever you go in the world but most people are kind and want to help you.

7. "Aren't you worried you'll lose your spot or not get into college?"

Nope. This theory that gap years mean you will lose your spot in school is totally not true. Most colleges will let you even apply when you are a senior in high school and then put your spot on hold for a year. Or you can apply during your gap year. Getting through my senior year was stressful enough without filling out a college application, that's one of the reasons a gap year worked so well for me. I used my months when I was working full time to fill out my application. And as far as not getting in because of it, I actually used my gap year to my advantage, I talked about how I was using my gap year to clarify what I wanted to do with my life and how I would be able to bring my experiences into the classroom. I got my official acceptance to college when I was volunteering in India, so that was a pretty awesome experience in itself. Colleges like to know that you have experience and that you are clear about what you want to do, that means you are less likely to drop out of their programs. So a gap year could actually help you to be accepted.

8. "Aren't you worried about missing out on the 'college experience' and not being able to make friends because you won't have started with other people your age?"

This was by far my biggest worry taking a gap year. Not so much the college experience part because I knew I'd be having way cooler and different experiences and that college would still have parties when I got back, but the friend part for sure. I thought I wouldn't be able to meet people skipping the whole dorm experience, but that has been far from true. I have met some of the most incredible people. You can meet people in your classes, meet people by working on campus, joining clubs and groups, going to parties, everywhere really. I mean, college is filled with people all around the same age so the idea you won't make friends is silly. And the friends I have made are people that I really appreciate, they aren't just random people I met in a dorm but they're people who have similar interests to me and who really want to be friends with me too. The friends I have made this year have only made me more glad that I did take a gap year.

9. "A gap year is always between high school and college?"

Not necessarily. For me, that's what worked and many people like to do it that way because it is a good time for a break from school and helps to give one space to figure out what they want to go to college for but I have met people taking gap years at many points in their life. If you feel lost in college and you're still unsure of what to do it's something good to think about, again, colleges will generally hold your spot for a year even if it's in the middle of your time there. If you're in between undergrad and grad school it's most definitely a good idea to gain experiences that you can bring to grad school with you. Really, a gap year could mean anything to anyone.

A gap year might not be for everyone but it's something that should be considered more frequently. So, maybe Malia just wants her dad to not be president when she goes to college or maybe Malia doesn't believe the myths and knows the truth about a gap year, that it's a great opportunity for adventure, growth, and future success.