Before the next step

Updated on: Monday, July 19, 2010

A gap year before one starts on one's quest for the future, before deciding on an academic career track. Tarry a while and then get on with the serious business of growing up from a carefree teenager to a focussed adult. A breather, before the relentless pursuit of all that which is desired and coveted. A well deserved gap year before embarking on one's tryst with destiny. Major decisions in life must be taken circumspectly, not impulsively, and certainly not by default or by a process of elimination.

Taking a gap year after high school is a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly popular in India. The 'Gap Year' concept originated in the decade following the Second World War when youth travel and cultural exchange was discussed amongst governments as a useful tool to create global understanding to prevent further wars. Started then, this is a tradition followed in Britain for many decades where students typically take time out to hitchhike and travel the world, culturally immerse themselves, learn some new skills or sport, like photography, teaching or deep sea diving or engage in community service for a cause that they believe in.

STRIKING A BALANCE

A growing number of students in India are now taking a year off after finishing high school board examinations or after college to study and prepare for various competitive tests like the IIT-JEE , CAT, GMAT and the like.
The trend may well be a sensible decision on the part of students , as in the past many students have been known to jeopardise their board or final year examinations while preparing for engineering, management, medical or law entrance tests.

A concentrated preparation regimen for the more competitive tests may well ensure that a student is not bogged down with split loyalties; that of board examinations and those of the entrance tests. This will enable them to attend tutorials or coaching classes if desired, unhindered by time constraints and also spend sufficient time preparing independently with a plethora of study material that is available to them. Many students decide to work on university selections, filling of applications and essay writing and preparation for the GMAT, SAT and TOEFL iBT tests after finishing high school or college.

Dibyendu Shekhar Roy of Shillong decided to take the TOEFL and SAT after finishing his ISC examinations so that he could concentrate on a scholarship-winning application effort. He made it to Drexel University and has done remarkably well. So have Rahul Biswas and Arpan Das, who took time out after finishing their bachelor degrees to concentrate on the GMAT and finally made it to a good university in the US and also secured scholarships.

Biswas also used the gap year to increase his proficiency in Spanish language. Their parents were completely supportive and their faith has been vindicated by their children's success. A year was not a high price to pay. As many others are vouching for. Taking a gap year has majorly been favoured by those applying to universities abroad. Having decided to apply to a university abroad, all applications and their supporting documentation needs to be meticulously put together and sent within the deadlines. Meticulous preparation is made for the visa application and interview. This is time well spent towards actualising goals. Many who are keen to join a reputed Bschool in India also take time out to study and prepare for the CAT, XAT, MAT tests for entry to the coveted B- schools in India.

Ambrose Davis, director of International Student Recruitment at University of Pennsylvania and the Wharton School opines, "Every good student must realise that there are hundreds as good as them in every country and a few thousand from over the world who will apply to the same school as they are applying to. How do I pick the winners? Sell yourself to me — through a well-packaged application. Take time out after high school to do that. If it takes a year, so be it because you have worked at good scores in the SAT and TOEFL and written candid essays and a lucid statement of purpose. Your recommenders have done their best and you have an application that makes me sit up and take notice. Only then you could make it to my school."

Ms Mahmood, whose daughter took a gap year to work on her SAT and TOEFL preparations and finally went to Temple University and is now a Master's student in Houston says, "It didn't matter that my daughter took a year off as in the end she succeeded . Since she didn't waste any time and remained focussed on her goals, I supported her decision." Other parents emulate this view as well.

EXPLORING THE UNKNOWN

Different strokes for different folks. Some students believe that working for an NGO or a social service organisation in the gap year will help them give something back to the society and also help them to earn a better view of the realities of the society and country to which they belong. Noble thinking indeed and true in the way that it does instill amongst the youth a feet-on-the-ground attitude and greater empathy for fellow humans especially after being exposed to the predicament of the lesser privileged. Some have been known to assist in drug rehabilitation centres while others have taught socio-economically disadvantaged children. These can be very fulfilling and empowering experiences that can build character and a realistic view of the world. However, it is being increasingly seen that such moves are emulated by many and generates a kind of herd instinct that makes many youngsters follow their peers without the same thought-out resolution or motive which can lead to sheer waste of time and probable disillusionment in some cases.

A few young students who have harboured aspirations of a serious nature in the area of special skills like professional sport or music or theatre, decide to make a 'do or die' effort, to see if the talents that won them plaudits and hurrahs in school can be translated to success in the no-holds-barred professional arena. A gap year, they believe can give them the window of opportunity to test their skills against the best. It is a chance taken to see if they can make it in their chosen vocations they are passionate about. If not, college and the oft trodden path beckons. These efforts and the opportunity to try their skills have often led to blooming of extraordinary talent in areas as diverse as sport, film-making , photography, multimedia and gaming, 3D animation arts, music and fashion design.

BEYOND BOOKS

Today, education has been reduced to competing for the highest marks and gaining entry into top colleges. The decision about one's future and one's career has been relegated to following the current trend and expectation of that which will bring money and respect. Choices are made based on trends, peer pressure, parental directives and expectations . As a result, the pressure on youngsters has become overwhelming, with no time and space left with them to actually discover themselves or the lifestyle and work that will truly bring them happiness. The idea that the work they do could actually be a source of happiness and meaningfulness has largely been lost.

A year taken off is not an aberration if utilised in a constructive manner to fuel a student's goal achievement path. An example, learning a foreign language. However, taking time off to work in a call centre or to just loaf around before joining an academic programme cannot be condoned under any pretext, as such activity does not add value to the future.

DELIBERATE DECISIONS

The Indian education system is often so oppressive that it deprives students from thinking clearly about their future. It deprives them of contemplation about their needs and

Times of India

Before the next step

More Education news