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Bongzilla

Alright, I am going to be graduating soon and in order to (bleh) keep my options open for whatever it is I want to do, I am going to go to university.

I live in Canada, and in my province there is usually a grade 13, but they cut it out. I am the last class to have a grade 13, which means I will be graduating with 2 times more people (more competition).

I have been thinking about taking a year off to beat the rush than applying. Alright, that is just an excuse What I really want to do is take a year off and have a little fun. It's basically all been planned. I plan on taking a road trip (without my friends, this is gonna be one of those 'finding yourself' adventures lol) and in a week am buying my first car (yay, flipping burgers made it take too long).

So my question is this: Would you take a year off and go on a little adventure up and down the US with little money, basically having a good time and picking up odd jobs along the way OR wait until after university to do it?

I know it may not seem like a big deal, but I have been planning this in my head for a year and a half, saving up whenever I can. I think I probably got inspired by Thoreau, an awesome book called Into the Wild about a guy who did what I am going to, and maybe a little Hunter S. Thompson

The reason behind it is I CAN'T have that boring life that is all to common now a days. I don't want to go to university, get a job, save money for retirement, retire and be too cheap to spend the money, die, etc.. I have to have some sort of excitement before I lose my will to live in a random way.

 

budhawk

do it take the trip,,after you make the commitment into all that other B.S....you know go to shcool and be succesful...it never ends,,,,i am a old man now and thoughts of turning it loose and doing something like that very much apealed to me at a younger age...i never did and have regretted it ever since...Do it and enjoy yourself...consider it taking a time out and besides you may find something you really like and be happy with........and it sounds as though you really want it also and it would be one of those great life experiences you will never forget.....good luck and have fun...life is to short..........

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Bailey1138

have you read on the road? If you haven't do it. That's my only advice.

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"All you do is head straight for the grave, a face just covers a skull awhile. Stretch that skull cover and smile."--Jack Kerouac, Visions of Cody

TokeyMcBongHit

Take the road trip if you can. Imagine how much more FUN it will be.

LittleC

I've already been accepted to some colleges...but I kind of want to say screw it and go on a road trip myself. I debated the issue of whether I should take a road trip before or after college...i supose I decided after b/c that way i'd get college out of the way and plus i doubt my parents would let me go now. But if you have the oppurtunity to go, I would just go...I'd give anything to say screw college and go on a road trip...damn that'd be great...

 

techno_trancer

I would take the road trip, and it sounds like a wicked idea considering its after graduation, ill be grading next year and plan on taking a year off also, I cant wait for it.

ikari

Hey, I know what you're going through because I live in hamilton, and graduated last year.
I'm in university now, as I applied and was accepted, but I know quite a few people in OAC year now. The universities are beginning to understand they need to accommodate more students next year, and are making preperations for it (I don't know about all universities, but I know this one is, and some others)
Basically, as long as you apply to universities/colleges that are in your mark range for your program, I wouldn't worry about getting in.
As for what you should do, that's really hard to say.. sometimes after taking a year off, people don't want to go back. Others want to go back more than they did before, because they miss education.
Personally, I'd apply and if I didn't get in where I wanted to, I'd take a year off and then try again.

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oregonbud420

Take the road trip, because if you don't do it now chances are you will never do it. Your sense of responsiblity seems to get larger with your age, at least in most peoples cases. Trying to put everything on hold in life for a year, when you are 24-25 or older, is way too difficult.

Enjoy the lack of responsiblity, go on the trip and find out who you really are. No real social connections around so you can focus on yourself - I guarantee you will learn more by doing that then what you would learn as a freshman in college.

Just my two cents.

Oh one more thing - if you do decide to go and just work odd jobs in different places for 4-6 weeks at a time, a good stop would be a ranch or farm somewhere, most of them don't really care if you dont have a permanent address, some offer room and board as part of your pay, and you make pretty good money for 4 weeks work, not to mention its a look into a different way of life if that is not what you are accustomed to.

Pages

Wait until you become a freelance journalist before you take a trip like this. What would hunter s. thompson do?

Scar Face

I'm in a city near Toronto, and i'm in the first year that is graduating at grade 12. I had a similar thing planned I'm doing it with a few friends after University or halfway through it. Was planning on taking a plane to Germany or some other country(s) near there and seeing the world. Then taking the train to Amsterdam . It is at least 2 years away from now but will be worth the wait.