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Bridge Michigan
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It’s right for Malia Obama, but is a gap year right for you?

Michigan students have an incredibly rich number of college choices, and thanks to Malia Obama, many more students are well aware of another choice for life after high school: the gap year.

Gap years have been around for years, but now that it’s a choice of the First Daughter, more students are wondering if this is a path they should take, too. Making a good decision about gap years begins with separating fact from fiction, so it’s important to know:

What is a gap year?

Students take a gap year when they’re interested in doing something other than going to school. Gap year plans vary widely from student to student, but they often include plans to travel, work, spend time with family, complete a focused volunteer activity, or take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime activity that just can’t wait until college is over.

Some of my students have taken gap years to teach English in another country, travel to Africa to help build and open a school, and improve their athletic skills in a semi-professional sports team. The choices truly are endless.

How does a student design a gap year?

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