Why I’m Taking a Gap Year Post Grad

by Tamanna Sood ‘24

As my time in college is coming to an end, questions about my future are being launched my way from all angles. From every family gathering to casual meetings with friends, the question, “So… what are you going to do post-grad?” has been looming over me like a shadow. My honest answer of, “I do not know, but I’ll figure it out,” never quite satisfies people. 

In the hustle culture of USC, it can feel almost embarrassing and extremely disheartening when you have no clear idea of where you are going post grad. In reality, there are tons of graduating seniors at this who school feel conflicted about which of many paths to take and need more time to figure it out.. 

Personally, I’m trying to decide between finding a job in the field I majored in or branching off into graduate school to retrain in another field. As a journalism student, I’ve always enjoyed my classes, but I don’t necessarily see myself sustainably living off of a career in journalism. The field is often unreliable, which as many recent media layoffs have proven, and often requires an immense amount of work without a salary to match. 

Taking a gap year and moving back home felt like the only option that would allow me to seriously consider and thoroughly understand what it is that I truly want to do. I totally get how moving back to your hometown can feel regressive in your career journey. It’s not that I don't fear falling behind my peers, but I fear the idea of aimlessly working towards a goal I no longer believe in and getting lost in the process is worse than having to face my old neighborhood again. 

As a person who started their college experience during the pandemic, I always felt slightly emotionally and professionally stunted in college. There was a part of me that always felt that college was moving faster than it should, and I was always lagging behind. The experience has finally caught up to me, and I realize that I just need a little more time to figure things out. That's more than okay. 

Gap years are more common than what people think. Students move back home for a multitude of reasons including simply needing a little bit of time before jumping into a career. 

Oftentimes, others assume that I’m too scared of the real world when I share that I’m taking a gap year. Others think that if I don’t apply to grad school immediately after college, I’ll never go. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth. In terms of school, I know with conviction that one day I will return, simply because I want to. There is so much I haven't learned yet, and I want to pursue my education further. I am just burnt out right now. I have been a student for almost 20 years straight, and I want to experience not being one for a little bit. I also plan on working during my gap year while figuring out what direction to take. Even if it won’t be the traditional office job that seems to be the perceived marker of college success, the time will allow me to save money and gain important life experience.

If you are considering a gap year, know that taking time before starting something new is normal. In your early twenties, it's more than okay for you to be overwhelmed and scared of what comes next. It's also normal to want to explore a number of possibilities before tying yourself to a particular path. Most of all, it's okay to simply take a break without any explanation. Being a student is hard, and everyone deserves some rest. It’s rare that you’ll find another point in life where taking a step back like this will be a feasible option. Sometimes, people also opt for gap years simply to prepare for their next step. Lots of students take a year off before pursuing graduate degrees to allow themselves dedicated time to complete applications. If you’re unsure of what to do next, a gap year or maybe even a couple months of rest might be the perfect option for you. 

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