James, have you heard of a gap year?
No, what's that?
It's when you take a year off between finishing high school and going to college. It's popular in the UK.
Hmm...What do people do for that year? Work?
Some people do, other people volunteer. But mostly, it's for traveling and taking it easy for a little while.
Do you like that idea?
I guess so. We've been working so hard and we're only in our second year. Besides, college won't be any easier. So it's good to have some fun while you can.
But I think it's just a way to fall one year behind where you should be.
How so?
If someone is interviewing you for a job, they're going to ask you about that year. And you'd better have something better to tell them than I went traveling.