I need honest opinions! (Taking a year off from school)

[autumnpalm]

Okay, DIS. It's honest opinion time!

As many of you know, I am a university student. In order to work and try to graduate without debt, I took part time classes for a while and am now a full time student (Psychology with a minor in Linguistics). Because of that, I'm about two semesters behind.

Now I have the opportunity to take a year off (second semester this year and first semester next year) to work as a dancer on a cruise ship. I grew up dancing and would love the opportunity to see a bit of the world, meet new people and just experience something I really won't be able to fit in at any other stage of my life.

On the other hand, if I take a contract, I will graduate two years behind and will have taken six years to complete university. I know I will go back to school so I'm not worried about giving up on my degree, but I can't decide whether I should just do the adult thing and finish school as quickly as I can, get a job and settle down... or try out something that sounds like a heck of a lot of fun. My priority is definitely education and I am focused on getting my degree and am planning on applying to grad school but I can't decide whether this is a "detour" from my life plan that is worth it or whether I'll regret taking so long to really become an adult.

Any thoughts? I just found out and have already made about ten pro and con lists! What would you have done at my age? What would you advise your son/daughter/friend/sister to do? I appreciate any and all opinions!

 

[SaraJayne]

Do it!! You'll never have the chance to be where you are right now (young, unencumbered and free to do as you wish without thought to family or job!).

As someone who graduated when I was 26 (married and pregnant with my second child), I say go for it!!!

 

[shirleyb]

What would I have done at your age? Stayed in school.

What would I do now, looking back? I would go for it!!! So what that it's going to take you an extra year, life is not a race.

 

[dejr_8]

Take the year off. I took a year off between undergrad and graduate school.

You will be a better person for the experience.

 

[castleview]

Go for it. As you get older, you will realize that six years is not that long at all.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I know exactly what I would do in your shoes because I've been in your shoes.

I would go to Europe and visit with friends and learn new cultures thus making me who I am now.

OH, WAIT!!!! That's what I did!!!


Go. Do. Dance. Enjoy your life. There are PLENTY of years to go and get that degree. I did it that way, too and I'm very successful in life with a good job and a lovely husband. And I wouldn't trade my years of travel for my life.

 

[dejr_8]

Go for it. As you get older, you will realize that six years is not that long at all.

Exactly!

 

[DawnCt1]

Put on your dancing shoes. Those positions are very competitive. You worked hard at dancing so you are "capitalizing on your first career'. Believe me, when you hit 50, no one is going to ask you to be a dancer on a cruise ship.

 

[fraggle551]

Do it. I am almost in the same exact shoes, except I went to Ireland, not working on a cruise. (PS that is AWESOME! So jealous!) I do not regret one thing at all, despite what other people in my life may thing is best for me. At the end of the day, you know what is best for you, and you will probably be a better person for it.

 

[Gigi22]

Go--do your thing. This is likely the only opportunity you will ever have to take this route. School will still be there, once you finish your year off.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I guess I would say do the finances first. It has to be financially sound otherwise it will cause you more grief long term.

Are you living at home? Where are you going to store you stuff, car, etc? Will that cost you money? Do you have to break a lease or pay for an apartment that you are not going to be living in? Figure out your expenses while you are gone.

It sounds like your degree program is not locked into a "time frame" is it?

Otherwise, if you are financially sound then go for it.

 

[autumnpalm]

Oh, thank you so much everyone. I appreciate each and every one of your posts. And it seems to be pretty unanimous!

My parents are quite against the idea- they are both very academic and think it would be a water of time. Deep down though... I know I really want to do it. Additionally, I would hopefully be able to make some decent money and better afford school when I continue.

Thank you so much for the input!! Of course there are still many details to work out (I would need to find someone to take care of my dog, contact my university and notify them, figure out my current living situation) but there is really nothing standing in my way that can't be taken care of.

 

[autumnpalm]

I guess I would say do the finances first. It has to be financially sound otherwise it will cause you more grief long term.

Are you living at home? Where are you going to store you stuff, car, etc? Will that cost you money? Do you have to break a lease or pay for an apartment that you are not going to be living in? Figure out your expenses while you are gone.

It sounds like your degree program is not locked into a "time frame" is it?

Otherwise, if you are financially sound then go for it.

Financially, I think it would be okay. I take public transit, so I would not have to worry about a car. I would however need to figure out my current living situation (hopefully find a student to sublet to) and where to store my belongings. My parents have a large basement so hopefully I could talk to them and ask to store some things there, but that is something I would need to talk to them about.

No, my program is not locked into a time frame, thank goodness!

 

[dislaney]

One of my daughter's friends danced on a cruise ship the year after she graduated high school. She had a great time and grew up a lot and now is enrolled in college and teaching dance part time. Go for it- you only live once!

 

[happygirl]

Everyone says I'll go back but it so hard to go back once you have left. Good luck iin whatever you decide

 

[Imzadi]

On the other hand, if I take a contract, I will graduate two years behind and will have taken six years to complete university.

I can't decide whether this is a "detour" from my life plan that is worth it or whether I'll regret taking so long to really become an adult.

You're a female. The average life expectancy right now for female is living to age 90. By the time YOU reach 90, the life expectancy will have gone up by about another 10 years or so.

Do the math:
You only have about 10 years to be a professional dancer.

You've got about 70+ years to "settle down," screw up life, have a lot of adventures & detours, and get "back on track," whatever that means?

Since you know you will go back to school eventually. Since you know you will make a lot of money on a cruise dancing to help pay for school later. Since you know you will gain a lot of life experiences and meet a lot of people, that may influence or change the rest of your life. Since it's only 2 years . . .

Dancing for a few years is NOT that much of a "detour." You will only have this window in time for it. Who says it's a detour anyway?

What if later, you become an entertainer/sports psychologist?

Peak performance coach/author, Tony Robbins, who changed the world of personal coaching, (and who I work on staff at some of his live events,) worked with Andre Agassi, when his tennis career was slipping, and helped him refocus and get back to winning Grand Slam tournaments. Tony has also worked with Serena Williams and the San Antonio Spurs. Google any of them with Tony Robbins. They openly endorse Tony.

One of Tony's coaches at an event, privately worked with me on a devastating, personal issue, 15 years ago and blew the issue right out of the water for me. I haven't had a problem with that issue since. It changed the course of my life. This coach has since gone on to specialize in sports psychology coaching, and works with several high profile, professional athletes who all openly credit him for helping turn around and refocus their successes.

You never know how this "detour" of dancing will affect & change your life, and maybe, later, others. It could affect the direction of what you decide to do with psychology.

ETA: BTW, since you are studying linguistics, too, Google or research Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP.) It's interesting that you are studying BOTH psychology and linguistics AND are an expert dancer. There is a whole field of combining psychological counseling/coaching with neuro-linguistics, or neuro-associative conditioning (Tony Robbins' expertise,) and mind-body work. (You can also PM me, for more info.) I know many people who've gone into this area in their 30's 40's 50's. It is NOT a field limited by age. In fact, the more life experiences one brings to counseling, the wiser and deeper one can help clients.

Go do your dancing first.

 

[laracroft]

I think you should go for it! You may never get this chance again! You don't want to look back and say one day, I sure wish I'd done that! It's a great opportunity! Congrats

 

[Imzadi]

Believe me, when you hit 50, no one is going to ask you to be a dancer on a cruise ship.

Or to just ask you to dance on a cruise.

My parents are quite against the idea- they are both very academic and think it would be a water of time.

I understand your parents concern. But, they are coming from an old, out dated paradigm that really doesn't work in today's work climate. Most people have to be multi-dimensional and multi-skilled as job cuts force people to look for other work and even in other lines of industry. The people who have more life experiences and flexibility are better able to adapt to changes.

The old, get ONE secure job while young, and work till you get a gold watch and retire, simply isn't accurate any more. Plus, the fact that, many people died of a heart attack, right AT their desk of those stable jobs, if not due to stress, but because they soulfully died inside, long before.

You have plenty of years to get "old."

 

[DSNY4ever]

What would I have done at your age? Stayed in school.

What would I do now, looking back? I would go for it!!! So what that it's going to take you an extra year, life is not a race.

Ditto. I hope you have the adventure of a lifetime.

 

[Hannathy]

Go!!!

Your 20's are for living life to it's fullest, you can do things in your 20's you can never do again.
Believe me you can do the same things in your 40's,50's,60's 70's and maybe your 80's but you only have 1 shot at the things you can do in your 20"s