mbewane
Knicks: 93 til infinity
Im currently conflicted brehs/brehettes.
I recently graduated from college and just started my career this week.
According to my parents, other family members, and my best friends I should take a year off for myself and explore the world, party, and live life to the fullest. They feel that since i completed one of my long term goals that I shouldnt join the work force just yet.
I already got a job in my field and I like it so far...i do miss going out partying, clubbing, bar hopping and road trips etc at random with my friends but I just want to be able to move out and be on my own right now. I knew that the minute i started my career that my care free lifestyle was going to have to come to an end but im conflicted brehs...
what should I do?
thats what im afraid of
what if i enjoy it too much and dont want to join the work force?
What if i miss out on great opportunities?
but then on the flipside.... i have friends that are now married with kids or have kids and cant even do the things I can. I feel that im lucky right now and I should just say fukk it and continue having a ball.
It really depends on where you're at with your life. If you ask the question, it's that you're considering it, meaning that it's maybe something you want to do and might end up regretting not having done later on in your life.
The thing is, the very words "taking a year off" gives off a negative off, like you're not doing anything and just laying back/partying. I would rather use the more neutral "gap year". And even that is not really a good wording, because it suggests it's just "a break", while it can be much more.
For example: if you take "a year off", what will you do during that year? Let's say you travel. If you do, it'll probably be in a country in which you don't speak the language, and you can learn it. Depending on your field, it can be a PROFESSIONNAL advantage, one acquired on your "year off". You learn to live in another culture, gain new insight on the world and now have inter-cultural skills. That's another big advantage (especially, no offense, for Americans, who seem to think that world is just an extension of the US). Maybe during that year off you discover something totally different career-wise. Maybe you find your future wife. Maybe you realize you want to live abroad. It all depends on the mindframe you have before the gap year. Maybe you have a passion that you've pushed aside and that you can spend more time on.
And taking "a year off" doesn't mean you necessarily have to stop working actually. Depending on your field you can do some e-work. Or you can give english lessons (those are always in demand, everywhere). Or you can teach stuff pertaining to your field.
Judging from most answers in the thread I think most people believe that "a year off" is just laying back partying and generally doing nothing. That's one way to do it, but not the only one. It can be a year in which maybe you discover yourself better, AND come back with new skills. Personnaly, I got a job and a new language out of my "year off".
If you were European, I would def tell you to take a year off if you can, but I know that Americans have a different approach to this.
