In case you haven't been reminded enough on social media and by your closest friends: rest is important, too. While being productive and doing things people our age are doing make us feel good, putting ourselves first is also just as rewarding.
That said, it takes a lot of courage to acknowledge when to pause and take a step back. For students in particular, taking a gap year ang going on LOA are not easy to do. Some worry about getting left behind by their peers, while others are worried about getting derailed from the typical timeline society has set for us. But aside from having more time to rest and catch a break, taking a gap year may actually help you reassess your options and learn new things about yourself.
For budding actress Melizza Jimenez (You might have seen her most recently in He's Into Her alongside Belle Mariano and Donny Pangilinan!), taking a gap year from school was a decision she did not regret. In an old YouTube video on her channel, Melizza shared details of why she took a gap year after graduating from high school and before heading off to college.
Why Melizza took a gap year before college
Melizza shared that she didn't really feel like college was for her, so she decided to opt out of taking entrance exams from local universities. But, to be safe and despite cramming for it, she did take the SATs, a test often used in college admissions from schools all over the world.
During her gap year, Mellizza decided to take on acting. "I wanted to explore life first," she shares in the video. With her parents' support, Melizza found herself being launched as part of the Star Magic Circle 2019, which led to several acting projects, including stints in The Killer Bride, The Heiress, MMK, and He's Into Her. Aside from acting, she's also doing music. She recently dropped the song "Killer Boy" which she wrote herself.
The advantages and disadvantages of taking a gap year
In her video, Melizza also detailed the advantages and disadvantages of taking a gap year based on her own experience. On the advantages, Melizza says, "You grow to be more mature. You get to focus on yourself more, and it's also a good opportunity to take a break."
On the other hand, taking at least a year off can make you forget the feeling of going to school. "It's like you stopped the motion. You went to pre-school, middle school, high school, and then you stop. And then you're like, 'Oh, this is so chill.' Uni comes, and you're just like, 'What do I do? I don't know.'"
She also shared how she somehow had FOMO over what her friends were experiencing. "I saw them get into their dream schools, and I still didn't have a uni [at that time]," she admits. But her advice is to *not* let this feeling get in the way of pursuing a gap year if you think it would really help you.
But overall, Melizza shared that taking that one year off helped her grow and become more mature. It also allowed her to work and somehow provide for herself. "It's just a great opportunity to focus on what I really want and to mature mentally," Melizza adds.
Check out her video here:
READ MORE:
7 Things to Consider Before Taking a Gap Year
I Took a Gap Year and I'm Going Back to School
15 Filipino Celebrities Who Attended International Schools
6 Celebrities Who Graduated From High School and College in 2021
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