It feels as though there is a lot of pressure these days to attend college right out of high school. I’m not afraid to admit I felt that pressure, too. I also felt the pressure to attend a large university immediately, rather than a cheaper, smaller school. I felt as though socially, that would have been unacceptable.

Looking back, I wish I had at least gone to a smaller school in the beginning. I could have gotten my general education credits out of the way without having to pay for the dorm rooms, or the significantly higher cost of classes. I also would have had more time to choose a major. Once I got into a university setting where no one wanted to be “undeclared,” I felt so much pressure to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

This need to choose when I wasn’t ready only cost me in the long run. I changed my degree program so many times, I ended up delaying my graduation date. I took classes that ended up not counting towards my degree at all.

Malia Obama was accepted into Harvard, but she has chosen to defer for one year. I praise her for this decision. It cannot be easy being the President's daughter. While I do not know her reason for deferring, I do know there are many out there who wish to do the same but feel as though it is not acceptable.

Malia is the President’s daughter. She was also accepted into a prestigious school. If she can take a year off, why can’t the rest of us?

There is nothing wrong with taking a gap year between high school and college. Taking a year off can be good for numerous reasons. Maybe you have no idea what you want to do with your life or what to major in. Perhaps you have never left your home state or seen the ocean. Maybe you just don’t want to have a ton of debt when you get out of school.

If you take a year off between high school and college, you can work and save up so you will have a little less debt when you graduate. You can take that vacation to the other side of the country – or even out of the country – that you have been dreaming of. You can figure out what you actually want to do with your life so you don't change your major a dozen times or graduate with a degree in something you hate.

We shouldn't be afraid to put college off for a year because we are afraid of what other people will think. That year can be used in so many ways that will be beneficial later in life. If you want to defer for a year, do it. If the President's daughter can take a gap year, why can't you?