Why Taking a Gap Year Is a Great Idea?為什么選擇間隔年是個好主意?

I truly believe education2 comes inmany forms3， not just schools. That iswhy I love the idea of a“gap year”.

我真的相信教育有多種形式，不僅僅是學校這種形式。這就是為什么我喜歡“間隔年”這個主意。

For many young men and women，once high school is finished， or close toit， it’s time to think about what’s next.In the past， going to college the followingfall was always “the right thing to do”.Things are changing as more students aretaking a year off between high school andcollege， known as a“gap year”.

對于許多年輕男女來說，一旦高中畢業或快結束了，那就是時候考慮下一步了。以前，同年秋季上大學一直是“正確的選擇”。隨著越來越多的學生在高中和大學之間休息一年，即所謂的“間隔年”，情況正在改變。

Many parents might be not happywith this idea， and in this case， it’sunderstandable4. It can be scary havinga child not know what they’re doing.They will feel afraid and worried and thenthey might not go to school at all. It’shard for some parents to understandpeople who don’t go to college. Despite5these worries， I believe a gap year can bequite rewarding6 for those who take it.

許多父母可能不喜歡這個想法，在這種情況下，這是可以理解的。不讓孩子理解他們在做的事是很可怕的。他們會感到害怕和擔心，然后他們可能完全不想去上學。有些父母很難理解不上大學的人。盡管有這些擔憂，我相信對那些選擇間隔年的人來說，它是相當有益的。

Why taking a gap year is a great idea？

為什么選擇間隔年是個好主意呢？

It Helps Students to Relax

有助于學生放松心情

One reason to take time off beforecollege is to relax. Let’s be honest7， highschool is a stressful8 place. There are manytests， homework and the worry over havingthe high grades and after-school activities forcollege applications9. The students shouldchoose the right college for a future10 job.When June comes， graduates can lift theirheads out of water at last. They canbreathe11 again. By taking some time off，young men and women can think of whatthey want to do. Then they can go intocollege feeling refreshed12 and energized13about the new journey they’re taking.

上大學前選擇間隔年的一個原因是想放松一下。老實說，高中是個壓力很大的地方。有許多考試和家庭作業，還要操心申請大學需要的高分及課外活動。學生要為將來的工作選擇合適的大學。六月到來時，畢業生們終于可以抬起頭來了，他們又可以呼吸了。通過一段時間的休息，年輕人可以思考一下他們以后想做什么。然后，他們可以精神煥發、充滿活力地進入大學，踏上新的旅程。

It Saves Money

省錢

By taking the time to go out， studentslearn more about the world， as well asthemselves. They will have a better idea ofwhat to study in school. Knowing what youwant to get a degree14 in collage can saveboth time and money. If you change yourmajor15 some times， you will spend moretime and much more money in college.

通過花時間走出去，學生們可以更多地了解世界和自己。他們會更清楚要在學校學什么。知道為了獲得學位，自己需要做什么才能節省時間和金錢。如果換幾次專業的話，你會在大學花費更多的時間和金錢。

It Offers Real World Experience16

提供真實世界的體驗

Taking a gap year needs to thinkand plan before you go. You need themboth when you get a job. Students mustfind out what they can choose from andchoose what they like to do. Whatchoices are there？ Taking part in aninteresting internship17 or traveling theworld （choices that would make it to thetop of my gap year activity list）. Thereare also many chances for Englishspeaking students to live in other countries.Often you can make money byteaching students English， and you get to"learn and live in a different country. Youmay learn a new language at the same time.All of these experiences are very helpfulwhen you look for a job in future as theyteach skills no classroom can.

開始間隔年之前需要認真思考，仔細計劃。當你參加工作時，你也需要這樣做。學生必須弄清他們可以選擇的內容，并選出他們喜歡做的事情。有哪些選擇呢？比如參加一個有趣的實習或周游世界（這些選擇也是我會在間隔年首先考慮的活動）。會說英語的學生也有很多機會去其他國家生活。通常你可以通過教學生英語來賺錢，而且你可以在一個不同的國家學習和生活。同時你可以學習一門新語言。將來找工作時，你所有這些經歷都很有用，因為它們給你傳授了課堂上教不了的技能。

Today， there are so many chances forfreshly18 graduated students and young people，that sitting around doing nothing isn’twhat most do. I would encourage19 studentsand parents to stop stressing20 and startthinking about all the chances in this world.A gap year can be a great year！

今天，剛畢業的學生和年輕人有如此多的機會，大多數人都不會選擇無所事事。我會鼓勵學生和家長不要焦慮，可以開始考慮這個世界上所有的機會。間隔年可能會成為很精彩的一年！

Would you think about taking a year offbetween high school and college？

你會考慮在高中和大學之間選擇間隔年嗎？

（英語原文選自：kidworldcitizen.org）