Editing Gap year (section)

===Advantages===
Personal Growth: Students often participate in destructive behaviors when they feel they have no purpose in their education. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-01-08 |title=Benefits of Alternative Gap Year Programs {{!}} Ed Magazine |url=https://www.gse.harvard.edu/ideas/ed-magazine/17/01/rethink-gap |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=www.gse.harvard.edu |language=en}}</ref> Gap years can allow students to gain experience and develop clear goals for their future. <ref>{{Cite web |last=NOLS |title=What Gap Year Statistics Tell Us About The Impact of Gap Year Programs on College Success |url=https://blog.nols.edu/what-gap-year-statistics-tell-us#:~:text=Meaningful%20and%20productive%20gap%20years,their%20coursework%20and%20extracurricular%20activities. |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=blog.nols.edu |language=en-us}}</ref>

Academic Performance: Students who take gap years often perform better academically, with benefits lasting throughout their academic careers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=NOLS |title=What Gap Year Statistics Tell Us About The Impact of Gap Year Programs on College Success |url=https://blog.nols.edu/what-gap-year-statistics-tell-us#:~:text=Meaningful%20and%20productive%20gap%20years,their%20coursework%20and%20extracurricular%20activities. |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=blog.nols.edu |language=en-us}}</ref>

Career Readiness: Gap years offer practical experiences that can help students clarify career goals. Internships, volunteer work, or job opportunities can also provide students with a competitive advantage in the admissions process. The Gap Year Association even reports that 90% of gap year participants reported that their experience helped them develop "critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills," all of which are valuable for any career path. <ref>{{Cite web |last=NOLS |title=Exploring the World and Finding Yourself: The Power of a Gap Year After High School |url=https://blog.nols.edu/the-power-of-a-gap-year-after-high-school#:~:text=The%20Gap%20Year%20Association%20reports,valuable%20for%20any%20career%20path. |access-date=2024-11-21 |website=blog.nols.edu |language=en-us}}</ref>