If you are really struggling with your classes, consider taking a year or two off

I’m a fourth year psychology major and I feel like it took me an embarrassingly long time to understand the value of taking a gap year. I had a decent GPA all throughout high school, but it was hard for me to do all the work for my classes when I was mentally unwell. <br><br>I took a gap year, and it was great. I took classes to help me improve my mental health, I was able to start going to therapy, and I was able to earn money, which was something I couldn’t do when I had to be in school full time. I was able to be the best version of myself. <br><br>I think the biggest thing I’ve gotten from my gap year is becoming more independent and being able to support myself. When I was in high school, I struggled with things like driving and taking public transportation in my city. During my gap year, I was able to live by myself and have a full time job and support myself. That would have been impossible for me to do a year prior. <br><br>I also believe that I wouldn’t have met the requirements to get into the university I’m currently attending if I hadn’t taken a gap year. My GPA was low, and my ACT score wasn’t high. If I had started college straight out of high school, I would have had to go to a community college. I was even considering a technical school, but now I’m at a great school that can give me lots of opportunities. <br><br>I think that a lot of students struggle with all the changes that come with college. If you don’t have experience being independent and supporting yourself, it can be really hard to make the transition and your grades can suffer. Taking a gap year will give you time to adjust to the big changes in your life and make it easier when you transition to college.