Episode 20: Taking Some Time Off

Academics

Dec 5

Written By HTC

In this episode, Dan chats with 3 fellow first-gens who highlight their experiences when taking a leave of absence or when deferring graduate school for a year.

In this episode you will hear from:

College student Elijah who took a leave of absence in the Fall of 2019 and returned to college this fall. Not only that, but he decided to transfer from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania to Columbia University in the City of New York. Elijah shares some lessons learned through his leave of absence and how he re-entered college during the COVID-19 pandemic.
College student Brandy who due to a number of factors including the COVID-19 pandemic decided to take a leave of absence this current academic year. Brandy has taken leaves of absence before and shares her wisdom from the growth she’s made over the years as she nears the end of her college journey.
College grad Austin who decided to defer his enrollment into Harvard Grad School for a Master’s in Data Science because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Austin shares his wisdom as a college graduate with over 5 years of work experience and how deferring enrollment was the wisest decision for him and his family.

For our first gen friends, these guests stress that asking for help is really important when making major decisions in your life, whether it is taking time off from undergrad or deferring graduate school. Tuning in with yourself and your personal interests is key to making the most of your college experience, and deciding what to pursue for graduate school.

For our parents, our guests emphasize to be nonjudgmental, and to offer emotional support from a place of love. Parents who did not go to college won’t understand all the intricacies of the college experience, but they do know their children’s emotional patterns. Helping your children navigate their emotions can help them navigate challenging decisions.

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