Why Taking a Gap Year Is a Great Idea?为什么选择间隔年是个好主意?

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种形式，不仅仅是学校这种形式。这就是为什么我喜欢“间隔年”这个主意。

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”.

对于许多年轻男女来说，一旦高中毕业或快结束了，那就是时候考虑下一步了。以前，同年秋季上大学一直是“正确的选择”。随着越来越多的学生在高中和大学之间休息一年，即所谓的“间隔年”，情况正在改变。

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.

许多父母可能不喜欢这个想法，在这种情况下，这是可以理解的。不让孩子理解他们在做的事是很可怕的。他们会感到害怕和担心，然后他们可能完全不想去上学。有些父母很难理解不上大学的人。尽管有这些担忧，我相信对那些选择间隔年的人来说，它是相当有益的。

Why taking a gap year is a great idea？

为什么选择间隔年是个好主意呢？

It Helps Students to Relax

有助于学生放松心情

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.

上大学前选择间隔年的一个原因是想放松一下。老实说，高中是个压力很大的地方。有许多考试和家庭作业，还要操心申请大学需要的高分及课外活动。学生要为将来的工作选择合适的大学。六月到来时，毕业生们终于可以抬起头来了，他们又可以呼吸了。通过一段时间的休息，年轻人可以思考一下他们以后想做什么。然后，他们可以精神焕发、充满活力地进入大学，踏上新的旅程。

It Saves Money

省钱

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.

通过花时间走出去，学生们可以更多地了解世界和自己。他们会更清楚要在学校学什么。知道为了获得学位，自己需要做什么才能节省时间和金钱。如果换几次专业的话，你会在大学花费更多的时间和金钱。

It Offers Real World Experience16

提供真实世界的体验

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.

开始间隔年之前需要认真思考，仔细计划。当你参加工作时，你也需要这样做。学生必须弄清他们可以选择的内容，并选出他们喜欢做的事情。有哪些选择呢？比如参加一个有趣的实习或周游世界（这些选择也是我会在间隔年首先考虑的活动）。会说英语的学生也有很多机会去其他国家生活。通常你可以通过教学生英语来赚钱，而且你可以在一个不同的国家学习和生活。同时你可以学习一门新语言。将来找工作时，你所有这些经历都很有用，因为它们给你传授了课堂上教不了的技能。

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，刚毕业的学生和年轻人有如此多的机会，大多数人都不会选择无所事事。我会鼓励学生和家长不要焦虑，可以开始考虑这个世界上所有的机会。间隔年可能会成为很精彩的一年！

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

你会考虑在高中和大学之间选择间隔年吗？

（英语原文选自：kidworldcitizen.org）