When students graduate from high school, they are expected to mature and become more independent in their lives. Some students in their late teens feel that they cannot handle the responsibility that college brings them. They may not be financially prepared to pay for college or they just want to take some time for themselves and figure out who they are and what they want to do. Gap years are a dedicated year after high school in which a student spends time traveling, working, volunteering, or simply maturing. Many students use this time to prepare for the life decisions that await them. They can also use this time to have fun before the hard work of college. They may decide to volunteer to give back to others at a time in their lives when adolescents today live in a world where instant gratification and self-centeredness are prevalent. Although teens often do volunteer or service hours in high school, it is usually to fulfill a requirement or improve a college application. True volunteering is when you truly give of yourself without expecting a return. Volunteering allows young adults to step out of their own world and begin to see others. They begin to realize the true gift they can give to themselves. They may even discover that they want to live a life of service or choose a career in which they help others. Another benefit of volunteering at this time of life is the effect it can have on the volunteer's peers. Their friends can see them volunteering and see the sacrifice and joy it can bring. Through the use of social media, the person volunteering could share their experience and at least it could help others to consider the same. But it's a wonderful option for teens growing up in a culture that favors "self." The value of this act truly depends on the intention behind it and the seriousness with which the young person takes it. If they are committed to its goal and have a plan for when it's finished, I think most parents would support it. Having their parents' support and approval would probably be necessary to some extent. If they outline their plan to their parents and show them the purpose of the gap year and what they hope to learn, achieve or gain, their parents will be much more likely to support their decision. However, many parents may simply let their child make this decision, which is one of the first independent decisions of their life. This in itself could be a learning experience for