Gap Year

Earlier in the year I was wondering if it would be wise to take a gap year. My initial reason was out of emotional and physical stress; uni was just getting too much for me, and I thought that taking a 'step back' and evaluating myself, would probably make myself a better person in the long run. I have doubts however; in fact I think it might do nothing for me. So I'm making this post for myself to evaluate and explore my true motives for taking a gap year.

First to quickly clarify; architecture is a 5 year course. 3 years gives you B. of Environmental Design, then 2 years more gives you an M. Arch. The bachelor is almost a useless degree; without the Masters you can't really get a job as a registered architect (I assume to myself that I want to take the whole damn course because I want to be an architect). I can get the B. En, and then because of the way the course is structured I can take a gap year.

Now, the pro tips. I know a lot of people like the idea of gap years. What gap years mean to them is exploring the world, gaining knowledge outside the classroom (good in lots of ways, since that knowledge isn't obtainable if you just stick inside uni), learning more about the world about them and gaining insight to what they really want to do in the future (i.e. how to change the world for the better). Yes, I agree on all on them, but it hinges on many other decisions I have to make. If I take the gap year seriously plenty of opportunities are going to open up. I have very faint plans or ideas of what to do if I take a gap year. Things like traveling overseas for several months or half a year, and taking a job is on the list.

And then, that's where we hit the cons. Knowing my own nature I know I will waste the gap year doing nothing but stuck in the house helping mother and being lazy. First my parents might restrict me, second it all goes back to me; I will be content with restricting myself. I'm a person who's content to step back, and thinking but not doing. I'm the do-it-later type, the think-of-all-the-possibilities, but I never see myself doing anything I dream of doing. I haven't even got a job yet. I haven't got true motivation for what I really want work through in life. Hence, if I am going to take the gap year, I'll need to do much more planning and I need to pour more effort into planning and doing rather than floating and just surviving in uni like a half dead dog.

Also, a couple of my friends at youth are also approaching the year where they graduate, or are able to take a gap year like me. They're actually planning to spend it on mission trips, voluntary work overseas, and going to Bible seminar. I am a bit late into their discussions, and in fact I have to admit I'm far apart of what they're doing. I have to question myself if I'm actually doing this to join the bandwagon. Am I doing it because my friends are doing it?

Now the big question; is it in God's plan for me to take a gap year, or will it be better to keep focusing on my education in uni? To be honest I don't care about anyone's opinions whether I should take a gap year. I think I should decide for myself; but most importantly I'm doing this so I don't fall in the trap of following others people decisions rather than the decisions that come from God; which matter the most.

I did pray about it, the answer was a 'wait'.