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In some countries it is common for students leaving school to do a gap year in which they travel, do voluntary work, or do a job

before going on to higher education. Although this may benefit students in a number of ways, it also has a number of disadvantages. To what extent do you agree or disagree? It has become an attractive option for many students on completion of their secondary school studies to defer higher education for a year in order to travel, gain work experience or undertake volunteer work abroad. This temporary suspension of formal study is viewed by many as a golden opportunity for young people to explore the real! world, to broaden their cultural hori"ons and to develop greater maturity and social awareness outside the narrow confines of academia. This rationale for a gap year is sound but the benefits gained from such an experience depend to a large extent on the character, attitudes and expectations of the individual student #or many young people contemplating a short break from formal study, the lure of travel with its opportunities for cultural enrichment plays an important part in their thinking. #or the adventurous, travel often necessitates a move beyond familiar comfort "ones and support systems thus encouraging greater independence and resilience$ %ualities which are important in the personal development of young people. #or students who opt for a period of work experience before embarking on higher education, a break from their formal studies may offer a breathing space, a period during which they are able to form a clearer vision of the kind of career or profession they would like to pursue after graduation. &any students complete their university studies with a very vague idea of the nature and demands of the work for which they were trained. There however some students however for whom a gap year would offer few benefits and in some cases place them at a disadvantage. Those who sei"e on it simply as an opportunity to free themselves from the constraints imposed on them by parents and teachers over the years and who lack self discipline and any clear purpose in postponing their formal studies may run the risk of drifting through the year without achieving very much. 'ther students wishing to maintain the momentum of their academic performance may well view a gap year as an unwanted disruption to their formal studies further delaying their entry to a career.

In conclusion, the benefits and drawbacks of a gap year depend to a large extent on the maturity, aspirations and motives of each individual student. #or many it offers wonderful opportunities for personal development whereas for others it is an unwelcome delay in the completion of their formal education.

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