Why students take gap years

When students start school at a university, most plan to be there for at least two to four years, and many are. However, there are also students who take time off in between semesters or for a few years. Some work, some travel and some participate in church service around the world.

Though it may seem counterproductive to some, taking time off can mean making enough money to finish school or finding out what to continue studying.

Freshman Cortney McIntosh currently has no personal plans to take time off from school, though she has seen a lot of others choose to do so.

“Probably for work — to get some money — and church service, those would be the two big things,” McIntosh said.

Debt isn’t a good thing for students, and it’s often best to get the money needed first before going to college, she said.

Andrew Munguia not only wanted to make more money, but needed a break from school when he took time off. When he felt he couldn’t find much good, full-time work in Logan, he moved back to Texas and began working for Amazon Operations.

A few months later, he got a call from a friend about a job opening at the company where he currently works. Though based in Cache Valley, Munguia was able to work remotely from Texas for a time. He recently moved back to Logan to finish his degree in economics and continue working.

Munguia would like to build a career with the company he’s currently at.

“They really take care of their employees,” Munguia said. “I went kind of backwards — just got the job, then the degree and career.”

Though it wasn’t his plan, it’s worked out for him, and he’s glad to be finishing up school, he said.

Not all students take time off to make money. According to the Utah State University’s Leave of Absence site for students and parents, some common reasons students may take time off include serving a humanitarian or religious mission, medical problems, issues relating to finances and employment, military service or family responsibilities.

“The standard leave period is one year. However, allowances will be made for military activation, church or humanitarian service and those with extenuating circumstances,” the site reads.

Students must fill out a Leave of Absence form available on the site and begin working with their academic adviser to prepare for time off.

Maddie Weller had made a lot of travel happen while she was in school, but finally decided she needed an entire semester to travel more. She then took three more semesters off, to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“I questioned myself at the beginning, whether or not I should finish my degree, then serve a mission or just take off after three years of school, leaving one year when I returned,” Weller said. “Once I had made the decision to go when I did, I never regretted it. Timing is everything and I was happy to come back to USU after the mission … I met my husband upon returning and I wouldn’t have had I finished school before.”

Returning to school after two years wasn’t easy, but Weller believes her habits and what she wanted to do changed for the good.

Ben Horrocks, a junior majoring in history and political science, also took off a year and a half to serve a mission for the LDS church, but she believes it was completely worth the time spent.

“I decided to serve a mission just because it was really important to me. The gospel is a really big part of my life, and it was the perfect time to do it.,” Horrocks said. “The school was really understanding by giving me that time off.”

Horrocks was called to serve in Brazil, but spent some of her time in Montana while waiting for her visa. She returned to school spring semester of this year.

“It’s interesting to see all of the things that have stayed the same and all of the changes that have gone on with the school,” she said.

Horrocks not only had to take a leave of absence, but also had to work with the admissions office to make sure her scholarship was held until she returned.

However, no matter the work that goes into taking time off, Horrocks believes it’s something many students can benefit from.

“I think this is the age where you are just trying to figure yourself out — what you want to do. Taking a break, no matter if it’s a mission or traveling or working for a little bit, I think finding out what you want to do with your life is most beneficial,” she said.

For any students considering taking time off, Munguia advises having a plan for coming back to school and finishing.

“I think internships or taking time to work in your field is a good idea, but you have to plan to come back and finish,” he said. “If you go and get married and get a job and kids, you can’t drop your job and go back. You have to figure out how to go back.”

Just like Horrocks, Munguia found that the university was understanding about him taking time off and helped him to do so.

“Don’t just keep going to school cause that’s what you’re supposed to do. … If you ever feel like you need to take a break, maybe you’re overwhelmed or don’t know what you’re doing, the university is really good about letting you take a break,” Munguia said.

— mandy.m.morgan@aggiemail.usu.edu