As a college student, I know how overwhelming and stressful life can get. Because of this, I have definitely thought about taking a gap year or a semester off from school. Usually, gap years are taken in between high school and college, but there are no rules, if you want to take a gap year right before you graduate college then who's going to stop you? Many students think about or plan on taking a gap year sometime during college, and it is a normal option to think about. If you're in this situation, there are a few points of interest that you should probably base your decision on. 

Why do you want to take time off? I have thought about taking a gap year because I get so bored with the same routine every semester. I also do not like school very much and I am not particularly good at being a student. I would also do it to find myself ... whatever that means. A lot of people take the time off to figure out themselves and understand their path in life a bit more clearly. Some may want to travel or volunteer for a year while others may want to work for a year and save up money for school. Whatever the reason is, think about it thoroughly and decide if this is the right path to pursue. 

What to do during a gap year? There are surprisingly many options for what students can do during a gap year. There are programs for traveling, volunteering, or interning abroad. There are even some scholarships awarded for students pursuing a gap year if going abroad is the goal. As a student taking time off, you would not have to worry about receiving school credit if this is the option that you want to do. If you don't want to commit to a program during your gap year, you can always pursue these options on your own. Working and saving up money for school or searching for a career path, is another way students can spend their gap year. Taking a year off to just relax or change your routine are also fine reasons to take a gap year or semester off. There are many possibilities for students to personalize their time off from school and do what they want. 

Pros to taking a gap year: 

• Time off for yourself; like a mental health day but longer
• A change of pace
• You can validate your career path
• No more stressing about school
• You can do what you want

Cons to taking a gap year:

• Becoming a year behind or so in school
• Being away from your friends/college family
• You might not want to go back to school
• It could be a waste of time, depending on the circumstances

If taking a gap year is a great possibility for you, take time to figure out what your goals are during your time off and your options.