Rec | IF YOU DO IT, BE INTENTIONAL

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i took two "gap" semesters, but instead of focusing on my mental health i went ahead and worked part time and took a few classes at a community college...unsurprisingly i still struggled when i went back to school i would say if you do take a gap semester for your mental health, ONLY focus on improving that. go to a therapist, rest, do light exercise, and develop healthy coping mechanisms for whatever things you were struggling with doing school full time. i so wish i prioritized that, because i feel i would've suffered a lot less during my undergrad. cons would be: interrupting your studying momentum would be the only thing i can think of? there is a stereotype of students taking gap semesters and just not returning but i know of more who did return than didn't because i took two semesters off i was a year behind my friends and that kinda sucked but more because i was sad about how things played out for me good luck! you deserve rest and good mental health! you're still very young so take the time you need!

@tash

Aug 9, 2024

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just took my first

i have been in university for seven consecutive semesters and i just took this one off to work (fun work, don’t worry). i feel great and i’m actually excited about the upcoming fall sem. i was worried that i would get bored or that i would fall behind if i took one off, but having a job helped both of those things as well, since i got to teach and be busy every day. it’s especially important if you’re taking five/six classes every semester, because it takes a lot out of you to do that. taking a break will also help you prep for the next year and will most likely improve your academic performance too. good luck!

@paperpendragon

Aug 12, 2024

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I managed my mental health

I was terrified to prioritize my mental health over my school and work life, but it turned out that feeling content and alive is a lot better than feeling miserable no matter what my grades turned out to be

@hwinter451

Dec 21, 2024

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Grow yourself

i had a similar mindset to you coming into college where i wanted to achieve a lot. it's important to have that ambition earlier on, as it can propel you to improve yourself. at the same time, don't get disheartened if things don't work out the first time around. i had a lot of issues in my first two years chasing after this idea of "lifelong college friends", and it's only after i stopped chasing and focused on myself that i was able to build some stronger friendships. engage with your hobbies and the things you like to do - people with similar interests can be found there. be flexible and open - have a list of priorities for the day, and engage in "productive procrastinating" where you procrastinate on something by doing an unrelated productive thing (like taking a break from an essay and cleaning up my room). i split my time between career prep, clubs, and other engagements using this tactic. it's a time of a lot of change, but you got this. good luck :)