Newspaper Article

Life lessons from the frosh year of higher learning

McKinnon, Taylor

2006

Overview

There's no rule that you have to attend university as soon as you graduate from high school. In fact, according to Jay Pace, a former U.S. university administrator writing for Seventeen magazine, taking a year off can be a good step to \"avoid burnout and be more successful next year.\" If you're interested in travelling, there are several things you can do: Visit goabroad.com or teachcorps.com to check out teaching or studying experiences in other countries. Habitat.org is a good website to look at for humanitarian trips (things like building houses in poverty-stricken countries.) Plus, says Pace, the experience you gain can boost your application if you decide you do want to give university a shot. Says Koh Mcradu, a 19- year-old living in Victoria, \"taking a year off of university was a bit of a breather for me -- it gave me some time to figure out what I really wanted to do.\" So, if you're not sure yet, fear not. You've got the rest of your life to figure it out. Nobody initially feels ready, says Brianne Bentzon, a 19-year- old kinesiology student at the University of Calgary. \"The first week is both really exciting and a little lonely. It's nice to have that independence, but there are times when you really miss your family.\" If you know you won't be able to deal with the distance, think about applying to universities in your area. But if you're only a little unsure, the only thing you can do is put yourself out there and see. \"Residence is really good for that transition from dependence to independence,\" says Bentzon. \"You're constantly surrounded by people, so you're never alone unless you choose to be.\" Plus, she adds, \"they do all the cooking for you!\"

• Publisher: Postmedia Network Inc
• Subject: Bentzon, Brianne / Chapheau, Chris