All lessons are to be offered within classroom corners, the gabled roofs of universities — this is a truth you used to accept, understood to be practical. Education is meant to be defined to the borders of a campus. You’re to learn through the aid of blackboards and professors. This is the logical order of things, and you once believed it completely.

But there are forms of an education that can’t be earned through books. History becomes stale when presented in ink; philosophy loses power when confined to pages. Classes are essential — but they’re not the only way to gain knowledge. And you are beginning to question the necessity of moving from high school to college so quickly.

For many American students universities are an expectation. There is to be no hesitation; these destination are to simply be sought. But they cannot always provide the craved facts, the necessary experiences. They trap knowledge within highly organized and highly tedious formats. Those wishing to discover more than books will be disappointed — especially when they’re forced to attend classes as soon as their high school graduation is done.

And this is why a gap year is so vital: by traveling the world students can absorb information that could never be contained within academia. The customs and religions, languages and routines of foreign lands can be observed — and mimicked. Individuals can earn an education of cultures; which will enable them to better themselves and their futures.

Traveling is not — despite what so many may assume — an excuse to deny colleges. This is not a refusal of formal learning. It’s instead the belief that students must become aware of the world before they can master it; and all who indulge in a gap year will be rewarded with far more than mere degrees. They will instead have the ability to understand the differing cities, cultures and strangers. It’s a benefit that can’t be denied.

All lessons are to be offered within classroom corners, the gabled roofs of universities — this is a truth you used to accept, understood to be practical. Education is meant to be defined to the borders of a campus. You’re to learn through the aid of blackboards and professors. This is the logical order of things, and you once believed it completely.

But there are forms of an education that can’t be earned through books. History becomes stale when presented in ink; philosophy loses power when confined to pages. Classes are essential — but they’re not the only way to gain knowledge. And you are beginning to question the necessity of moving from high school to college so quickly.

For many American students universities are an expectation. There is to be no hesitation; these destination are to simply be sought. But they cannot always provide the craved facts, the necessary experiences. They trap knowledge within highly organized and highly tedious formats. Those wishing to discover more than books will be disappointed — especially when they’re forced to attend classes as soon as their high school graduation is done.

And this is why a gap year is so vital: by traveling the world students can absorb information that could never be contained within academia. The customs and religions, languages and routines of foreign lands can be observed — and mimicked. Individuals can earn an education of cultures; which will enable them to better themselves and their futures.

Traveling is not — despite what so many may assume — an excuse to deny colleges. This is not a refusal of formal learning. It’s instead the belief that students must become aware of the world before they can master it; and all who indulge in a gap year will be rewarded with far more than mere degrees. They will instead have the ability to understand the differing cities, cultures and strangers. It’s a benefit that can’t be denied.