Straight Talk For Teens By Teens

How’s college? In a word: “Amazing.”

Dear Straight Talk: I’m getting ready to graduate from high school and though I’ve been accepted to college, I’m not sure I want to go right away. I’ve been in school my whole life and I’d like to take a break and just work or travel or do nothing (is that possible??).

Does it make sense to take a year off, or do the longer breaks in college make it more tolerable than high school? Or is college so much more fun than high school that I’m not going to mind it as much?

Also, my college is out of town. What’s it going to be like to not see any of my friends? Do I split up with my girlfriend? We’ll be about four hours apart.—D.K.

 Dear D.K.: The teen staff says it better than I could. I will print more responses next week.

 From Geoff, 21: My college is about four hours from home, too, and I didn’t know a single person upon arriving. What was it like? Amazing. Being “home” is a great feeling, don’t get me wrong, but coming to a completely new environment as a freshman, adapting, and making new friends was an experience I’d never trade. In a sense you’re free from the past; you’re allowed to find out what you want to become without any prejudices.

Regarding taking a break, thinking back, I’m glad I didn’t put off what I’ve found in college: friendship, motivation, inspiration, self-respect, and a general outlook on life that is fundamentally different from before I came. Simply, life is better.

College breaks do last longer. Winter break is about a full month; summer break is about three full months. For me, college is much more fun than high school and I think it’s because people want to be there. There is camaraderie among the students and they all seem to appreciate that each one is doing his or her best.

As for your girlfriend, it will be hard if at least one of you is not entirely dedicated to making it work. That’s not saying one of you is a bad person if you can’t do it, but once you find yourself in an entirely new world with new people and new experiences, it’s often hard to include your significant other if he or she is still in that old world. During my first month in the dorms, just on my floor (of 30 people), there were six girls who were dumped by their long-distance boyfriends; some took it harder than others but they all survived.

From Brittney, 18: Graduating high school was so weird for me. It was like: Now what do I do? I had no plans to go to college so I continued working and living at home. I was happy to take a break and I was able to work, travel, and just sort of relax. I never thought I would want to go to college, but now, being out of school for a year I really miss learning and would like to pursue it.

From Lennon, 19: Most kids think if they take a year off they can travel or relax, but, in fact, most parents won’t fund this. For me, “taking the year off” means I get up every morning at six, work all day, 40 to 60 hours per week, come home, and by the time I shower and eat there’s three hours left before bedtime. There are no breaks, you can’t “skip class”, you can’t choose your schedule and the schedule doesn’t change. You do the same thing day in and day out. It’s like you’re slowly dying. From what I see, going to college is not only easier, it’s more stimulating.