With the fall semester in limbo, more students are considering a gap year before attending college.

While traditional gap year plans are restricted, there are other options students can explore.

Justine Cole is graduating from Livonia High School this spring. She extended her time off from a semester to a full year so she could have the full freshman experience on campus.

“I’m not a big fan of online classes, so it’s kind of helping me to wait until everything normalizes,” said Cole.

She is taking a year off to finish her Eagle Scout project. She is repairing a fence in her town’s cemetery. Cole says she’ll be better prepared for four more years of school once she’s taken some time off.

“I know that it’s going to be good for me to take that extra year, then go back with a better mindset on college and life and have that extra time,” said Cole.

While traveling abroad isn’t an option for students, Gap Year Association board member Rae Nelson says students have other choices.

“Exploring a career, doing internships, pursuing something you’re passionate about as part of a gap year are definitely possible now, even in the COVID-19 environment,” said Nelson.

Students can also take a gap year and travel domestically to national parks with the Student Conservation Association. SCA officials say they plan to continue their 12-month programs in the fall, an alternative for students who aren’t ready to enter the job market.

“Maybe the best reason to consider an internship now is because of the tragically terrible job market we have out there. They might not be looking at launching a long-term green career, but the appeal of Yellowstone or Yosemite is so strong, they’d like to try it,” said Kevin Hamilton, Vice President for Communications.

Experts say students can also use their gap year to pursue a passion or explore a career.

— 13 WHAM