With college application decisions looming over students’ inboxes, the pressure of Northern Virginia’s competitive applicant pool often makes graduating students feel as though the four-year collegiate path is their only choice. However, current seniors and recent alumni have put this notion to rest and proved that this traditional path is not the only way to build a bridge to success.
Many students in Northern Virginia already feel the pressure to do extraordinarily well in school. The current—and considerable amount of— conversations regarding application statuses is just another layer of stress.
“A lot of the time the question isn’t ‘what’s your plan for next year,’” College and Career Specialist Michelle Jones said. “it’s, ‘What school are you going to?’”
Many students recognize that immediately moving from high school’s demanding academics to collegiate pressures may lead to academic failure. So, some graduating seniors choose to take a break from school altogether.
Recent alumnus Connor Lockett decided that he needed a pause from the world of burnout and stepped into the workforce. After months of job searching, and eventually finding his perfect fit working for a labor union, he recognizes that taking a gap year was the right choice for him.
“I got into the groove of things,” Lockett said. “I really feel like I’m learning things that I wouldn’t be learning otherwise.”
With public institution tuition rates rising 36.7% from 2010 to 2023, college can also create an exorbitant financial burden on many students. For those keen on both serving their country and avoiding student debt, a military path may be worth consideration.
Senior Kayla Welsh plans to dedicate her future to the United States National Guard rather than attending a four-year university. Like Welsh, many students do not want their education to consume them, and they would rather not spend their adult life paying off debt from a strenuous four years.
“There are a lot more options for the military than people realize,” Welsh said. “Recruiters work with you to find something that fits your strengths and helps you get the most out of your experience.”
Senior Miranda Ridgley has chosen a gap year path with the intention of serving in the 10-40 region—a series of countries in the areas of North Africa, the Middle East, and Asia between 10 degrees north and forty degrees north latitude— while simultaneously strengthening her faith. On track to serve a six-month mission, Ridgley will be taking the time to discover her true passions surrounded by faith-oriented people like herself.
“I wanted to spend some time for myself,” Ridgley said. “I can grow as a person and in my faith and figure out what I’m really interested in for my future before I rush into choosing a college or career.”
Every student’s path is unique to them and a four year college may be the right choice for many, but it is also important to recognize that should somebody decide to attend a university, they don’t have to be making their ivy league debut.
“When I found out I couldn’t attend any of my schools of choice because of financial reasons—the schools I worked so hard to get into—I was crushed,” University of Utah student, and former Stone Bridge student, Addy Cowley said . “But never once did I stop to consider the fact that even having options for a higher education was a privilege in itself. Straying from the [expected] path is not a sign of lesser intelligence nor is it a reason to lose sight of our privilege.”
