Gap Year Opportunities

Gap Year Opportunities

The most strategic students are able to unveil the gap year opportunities in the year they take off before college. Michael Porter states, "The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do." Cookie Lyon is Empire's ambitious strategist who recently started her own record label. She is never lost for words and fully understands the music industry therefore we are certain she will succeed.

Cookie decided that she would not stay at Empire Entertainment, the record label that was established with the money that she made selling drugs and consequently spent 17 years in prison for. Cookie needed more control of her situation so she decided to leave after a failed hostile takeover.

Gap Year Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson and Son Strategize

Cookie Lyon is played by actress Taraji P. Henson, a smart businesswoman who also understands the importance of strategic decision making. Taraji P. Henson and son, Marcel Johnson decided that he would take a gap year before college allowing him to take some time out from the 12+ years of schooling he had already completed and gain some real world experience. Henson explains:

“I had my son sit out a semester. Well, a year. We did the gap year. I just felt like he wasn’t ready. He’s of college age. He’s on his way to college. He was supposed to start last year. I want to set him up for success not failure. And a lot of kids when they go to college and they’re not mentally ready, they’re not mature enough and they fail. He’s not gonna waste my money. I feel like we invest in our children’s future and like I said I want to set him up for success not failure. Yes and he did [get a job for a year to mature] and I’m so proud of him. He’s such a good boy, he just wasn’t ready.”

Taraji P. Henson and Son Marcel Johnson

Taraji Henson's son Marcel provides the perfect answer to the following question: Should I take a gap year? Yes, if you do not think you are ready taking a year off before college can give you time to determine what you want to study in college and provide you with the opportunity to travel.

In Europe, taking a year off before college is the norm. Students use the time to pursue other interests before college. For instance, Prince William spent his gap year before college traveling the world.

When determining what to do in a gap year remember Taraji P. Henson's words in the above clip. Taraji Henson's son lived a privileged life. "The wolf on the hill is not as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill."

When you ask yourself: "Should I take a gap year?" consider the following gap year disadvantages: Great things never came from comfort zones. If you are complacent a gap year may not be for you. A gap year's disadvantages arise when an individual does not establish a vision for exactly what he or she would like to accomplish during the time out.

Taraji's son did not experience the difficulties that Henson experienced growing up in Washington, D.C. Henson's upbringing made her hungry and determined to succeed. For Taraji's son it may be difficult to tap into the same inner-hunger which can only be inherited through an individual's circumstances. The same theory is presented by Keenen Ivory Wayans in the clip below:

What to do in a Gap Year

There are numerous things to do in a gap year that strategic high school graduates are able to identify and take advantage of. Many students use their gap year after high school to explore careers. As opposed to taking time off a gap year before college should be seen as taking 'time on' in the real world.

The choosing the things to do in a gap year it is important to remember that unsuccessful people make decisions based on their current situations whereas successful people make decisions based on where they want to be.

Choosing a college major is a huge decision that can impact the rest of a person's life. Dedicate your gap year after high school to studying yourself to find out exactly what it is that makes you more curious to learn.