Class Dismisseed Analysis

“Class Dismissed” the New York Times article by Walter Kirn is a compelling and persuasive article which makes many well founded points towards the idea of abolishing senior year, or as it is known in Canada, Grade twelve. Kirn, however, fails to notice two distinct things.

For some students, the question of what to do after high school may be a burden to even contemplate as it approaches quicker and quicker. The pressure to continue another four (or more) years of education after high school can be overwhelming considering twelve years of schooling has already been completed; why go right back to school again? When’s break time? Some people are simply just not ready for college and they know it, or at least until after they have had a long break or have had some time to recollect themselves. Technically speaking college isn’t for everyone, nor is it necessarily needed for a career. Luckily today, there are many other options that potential career seeking beings can get a head start on such as community colleges and trade/vocational schools. These alternatives to a four year college are considered to be a good start on a job (and maybe even a career). The best benefits of these alternatives involve the cost of attending, the student environment, and the degrees offered.

When I think back, it was an isolating experience because everyone around me was able to get into college without a problem. Yet, I had to wait a year in order to apply again. However, out of that experience, I learned how important it is to preserve in life. I applied the following year and I got into 15 different institutions, opting to attend Brandeis University. You want something in life, there will be hindrances, but it is up to you if you decide to try to jump over them and conquer the finish line.

Senioritis is a common issue across American schools today and can have many different intensities that come along with it. The main cause of such an event is the loss of motivation, especially one who may already know what they are doing for future endeavors such as college or having an awesome job plan lined up for themselves. Everything from just wanting to graduate high school already, to truly despising the building you are locked up in all fall under what senioritis truly represents. Within Woodstock Union High School, whose numbers are slightly less than 400 students, one can see how broad of a spectrum this whole issue has become today.

As my high school years were coming to an end, all anyone could talk about was college. Where they were going, what state they would be a resident in, and what they would major in, what campus they would be visiting that weekend. I, however, thought I had it all under control. I thought that when my Senior year came by it would all fall in to place. That's crazy, right? The shows that I grew up watching did not have to deal with this. That is when expectation went out the window and reality kicked me in the butt. I had five months left to start applying to colleges and looking in to different campuses that offered my dental hygiene program. Lucky for me, my community college had a two year program.

Despite the fact that student’s desire is to gain a good education, some students fail their first year of college because they are not ready to pursue college life.

It is time to make a decision regarding what to do after high school. The most popular decision is to go right into college. Some students say they would like to take a year off before going to college. This is called a Gap Year, meaning they have a gap in between education. Some do well, and prepare themselves for college, while others do not. Those that do take a year off have time to explore what life has to offer, and takes advantage of the deferment application, become a better person.

Senior year in high school is the time we finally approach the first look at college applications. For many, it may be simple, for others it may not. Some of us have had our lives planned out earlier than others. others may see it as a scary lifelong decision to be made when choosing a major. One way students make their decision by planning ahead and seeing the actual potential available within a major.

Growing up I always use to like doing my hair, as well as my mothers and sisters hair. I began to do my own hair for school at the age of nine. About six months before I graduated high school, I participated in a fundraiser to support breast cancer /scholarship contest at Aveda Institute, which is a cosmetology school. I saw many creative and talented students at the event, it was amazing! I assumed it was a sign, so as soon as I graduated high school I registered at Aveda. I truly believed that cosmetology was what I wanted to make a career out of, because I enjoy making people feel more confident about their physical appearance. However, attending the institute emphatically demonstrated a sneak preview of what life had in store for me.

Why do people take a gap year? Since all of us are students, I’m pretty sure you would like to hear and know about what a gap year can do to us.

Since the student is currently learning some independence, this is a great time where they can get to know themselves better. During a gap year, students have the opportunity to get to know them as well as learn what they want to do in life (Ma, 2014). Back in 2013, there were interviews given to many students at different universities, about their experience with a gap year. A student by the name of Eden Full, Princeton University, stated that since he was young, he was always on the path to success. With a gap year, it had given him time to learn some new skills and explore some new interests that he had never had before (Lazaro, 2013). Another student by the name of Tiffany Yanagida, a computer science major at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, stated that a gap year had given her some time to find out her future career path. This was something that she had no idea about at the young age of 18 (Lazaro, 2013). This is a great time to have fun, build up your social network, and go out and enjoy the world.

Most students are not over the pressures of being a senior in high school. That’s why the gap year should be taken to release all the stresses of high school. Most students cannot take being stressed out so decide to wait. These students are not capable of attending college due to their mental stability. Being a college student directly from high school could take a great toll on a person physical and mental state.

However, gap year is not as fantastic as it might seem. Gap year can make a student lose their flow of things. They will not be so willing to study as they don’t want to go back to the stress and rigor of academic life. It takes the student away from classroom experience. Gap year means that the student will lose a year of learning, of education. It makes you fall further behind your peers; this can put you at a disadvantage particularly if one is going to med school or law school. Additionally some gap years can be expensive especially if one is traveling. This could make college harder to afford. All in all gap year has its pros and cons, but it’s in the will of the student to say how fit it is for them.

Taking a “gap year” off between high school and university has become a popular alternative among many adolescents. A “gap year” is a period of time, usually an academic year, when a student takes a break from formal education and routine (“Gap Year.”). This time off provides a break after many years of formal study and is often spent travelling or working. In the past, taking a gap year resulted in problematic return into education. Today, however, they are generally seen as positive and are supported by Universities and employers. The idea behind a gap year is that it offers opportunities practical experiences, which enable young people to learn more about themselves and what they want to do in their future. While education is

Though there are many advantages to taking a gap year, there are just as many disadvantages. People may find themselves unwilling to go back to school, they may lose opportunities for scholarships, or they might not have enough money to support the activities they replace school with. Even their social life could be affected. With all of these negative aspects one may ask, why would anyone risk taking a gap year?