In some countries, young people are encouraged to work or travel for a year between finishing high school and starting university studies. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages.
There is a controversial debate over whether students should have a gap year to work and travel before starting university or not. This growing concern brings up some benefits and drawbacks of delaying studying university for students themselves.
On the one hand, it is evident that spending time on making money or leisure activities offers individuals precious experiences. In particular, experience in work is never superfluous and sufficient, since this can be taken advantage of in any fields. Besides, traveling could result in great spirit and joy to refresh oneself, which is also considered a reward for hard-working during high school. Another merits of having a gap year of freedom will give pupils chance to contemplate what they really want in life. Getting into university will change their life, therefore, they need time to make a serious choice on their major as well as forwarding education process.
On the other hand, there are some minor downsides of working or traveling before continue studying that needs being considered. Scientists have proved that stopping studying for a long time virtually decreases the ability and productivity of study. Because studying is a daunting and demanding process, if ones stop doing it, he or she will soon get bored of thinking critically as well as be distracted from studying. Moreover, many believe that such living as what young people want before get into university is a little too soon and waste of time, while they can wait until finish higher education. Teenagers around seventeen-year-old are not mature enough to work independently, not to mention, they would easily decide to quit studying to pursue their temporary passion.
To sum up, delaying universities can have many good sides as well as bad sides. Although the disadvantages seems by far outweigh the other, the actual outcome depends on the condition, ability and perspective of each person.