There comes a time in everyone’s life when making plans comes with a lovely bouquet of what-ifs.

After spending a semester of my junior year as well as the entirety of my senior year of high school online, I took a chance and did what was once traditionally done by kin of celebrities, politicians and the one-percenters: I took a gap year.

Initially, when applying to potential universities, the idea of taking a gap year never crossed my mind. However, after living through 2020, a time of uncertainty, social chaos and political strife, I was less hesitant to take a year off.

My ultimate decision to take a gap year was simply to recuperate. After years of dedication to my studies and extracurriculars an emotional, physical, mental and spiritual break was needed.

That might sound jarring to some, but I don’t believe in pushing yourself until you have nothing left to give. My gap year allowed me to rest and reset. It was the first time I could analyze everything from kindergarten to senior year.

I mean, I guess that would’ve fallen into the category of social distancing, but I don’t harp on the past. Honestly, the thought of picking up my entire life and moving to Baton Rouge, hundreds of miles away from my family, hurt my stomach.

So, I put together a slideshow of what the next year of my life would look like for me as a high school graduate and stay-at-home daughter. After receiving my parents’ support, I instantly felt a weight lifted off my shoulders. 

Remember that everyone’s gap year looks different, but here’s what I did. I implemented self-care like having a consistent Pilates schedule, earthing and lounging poolside. But my days weren’t just full of fruity little drinks and zen.

I enrolled in a writer’s course, published articles for my blog and collaborated with brands such as Frances Valentine New York and Kendra Scott, hosting events and creating content highlighting their products.

It was a year of being creative and building skills that I’d eventually put to work at LSU. Also, during this time, my podcast “Unbothered with Ava Madison” came to be. Through recording episodes about celebrities, fashion and cinema, I deepened my knowledge of pop culture.

I’ve always been intrigued by the world of entertainment since a young age, but it wasn’t until my gap year that I gave myself the title of pop culture enthusiast/archivist. This would have a lot to do with my future career aspirations.

Nevertheless, the beauty of taking a gap year is exploration, which can be hard to do when you have due dates and other responsibilities take a higher priority in your life.

As this semester comes to an end, some of you are saying goodbye to LSU and venturing off into the real world. To all who are graduating, if the idea of taking some time off before continuing your post-graduate studies or joining the arena of 9-to-5 professionals is intriguing, I’m here to tell you to say “yes.” I know this is kind of ironic coming from the girl who told you a few articles ago why saying NO is your superpower.

But what’s stopping you from booking a one-way trip to your dream destination and living a life of beach days and sunset swims? I know someone who’s doing just that right now, and I couldn’t be more thrilled for her. If there’s a time to live, it’s now. You’re young, healthy and blessed to be alive.

Don’t get it twisted; while an international trip is exciting, it isn’t necessary. You don’t have to go abroad to live your best life. If you want to venture stateside or spend time with your family and friends from the comfort of your hometown, go for it.

If my gap year taught me anything, it was to break the status quo. Don’t worry about what your fellow peers or TikTok influencers are doing. Bills, relationships, and cubicles will be there , but your chance to do something special is not.

Looking back, I wouldn’t be where I am today if God didn’t want me to keep the faith and stay right where I was after graduating in 2021. I needed that time with my family. I needed to spend days floating in the pool, my mind free of stress, fear and doubt. I needed to have every conversation I had on sushi dates with friends.

I came to LSU refreshed and ready for the next 4 years. I met one of my “everything” friends who I might have never run into if it weren’t for me being in the class of 2026 rather than 2025. I took chances that my 18-year-old self might’ve never had the guts to go for, but my 19-year-old self sure did. I needed to get to know myself better.

Sometimes, it takes one more year to make you exactly who you need to be to get through what’s up ahead. A gap year is something worth giving a chance if you’re debating it, so, don’t count it out just yet.

Ava Francis is a 22-year-old journalism major from New Orleans residing in Texas.