Issue date: 1/26/05 Section: Opinion

In England there is a thing known as a 'gap year;' we here in the United States prefer to say 'taking a year off' when we talk about it. However, that is not where the differences end, it is only where they begin. Here, the "taking a year off" is met with gasps and looks of shock. It is then followed by a line of questioning by parents, friends, even teachers, which goes a little like this: "Why would you want to put your education (read: "life") on hold?" "Won't that jeopardize your future goals?" "What will you do instead?" "How will this help you later in life?"

The list goes on.

When I decided to study abroad last year I was bombarded with questions from everyone I knew. The questioning from my parents was bewildered and hostile, even though they are not the ones funding my education. From my peers the questioning seemed to be more of intrigue and later jealousy.

Over the course of planning my semester abroad I encountered many students who had always wanted to study abroad or take time off to travel, but many were too afraid to do so. I can understand their resistance to leaving behind the certainty, the plan. Nobody likes change especially when the outcome is completely unknown.

The outcome in this case, however, can only be positive. Students who go abroad learn about other cultures. They step out of their comfort zone and are confronted daily with problems that arise from cultural differences and from just not knowing. That discomfort leads to an incredible growing experience. I never felt so alone or so confused in my entire life as I did when I first arrived in France. Nobody spoke my language, I didn't know where I was going to be living, I had no car and I had nobody but myself to turn to.

The point is that I figured it out and I learned a lot along the way. Before leaving I thought that all students in all countries had as difficult a time explaining their reasons for wanting study or travel abroad in lieu of traditional education, but I was wrong. When visiting some friends in England I found out that it is English custom for students to take a gap year between high school and college to travel around other countries and enjoy working and living in other cultures. It is viewed as a passage rite of sorts.

It would be nice if students in the United States could, before being bogged down with the 'real' world, take some time out to see what lies beyond their borders without feeling like they will fall behind.

With all of the overseas study options available to students at Sacramento State, it is surprising how often the opportunity is passed up. The Office of Global Education, located in Lassen 2304, has options from six weeks to a full year in many price ranges along with scholarship opportunities, so there is no reason for students to turn down this opportunity that, yes, will look good on a resume in the future.

Taking a year off does not have to be a negative thing. It doesn't make people look flaky or irresponsible. It makes them look curious and interesting, and it makes them stand out compared to the students who just went through the motions to get their degree. Having the University of Somewhere Far, Far Away on a resume leads to a lot of great questions from potential employers and becomes a great conversation starter. Usually the conversation starts like this... "Oh you studied abroad? I always wanted to do that, but..."

Rebecca Adler can be reached at opinion @ Statehornet.com

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