Nick - good for you! We are both Escondido (when it was a K-6 program) and Terman (when it was a 7-9 program) alumnus. I too lived on campus and taught there, too. Am a Stanford Indian but that's another story. U have the rest of your life to work. Good for you to take a year and reflect, discover, and consider your options. Remember this: real happiness only comes from within (you likely already know this given your Christian experience as noted by the insight of my kingdom is within each one of you). My point: find your passion, not a career. Do what you really love and your life journey will be so much calmer and fulfilling. Don't die from stress by your mid-50s. Don't worry about the housing cost thing - we live in a broken model; I believe we will have reforms in place by the time you come of age to purchase far more affordable housing; one of the many positive changes for your generation Z. Keep your options open and realize it's ok to reinvent yourself every so many years or find that one retirement gig that may not pay as much but is consistent and more importantly, personally rewarding. All the best!

Nick is an amazing young man. Not only did he volunteer with WildLyfe, he also volunteered coaching baseball for Palo Alto Little League. Our Majors team was grateful to have Nick working with our players. He was a wonderful role model and the boys had great fun with him. We wish you all the best Nick!

I am a strong proponent of GAP year. GAP- Grows And Prepares you in so many different ways. All kids should get a GAP year after the pace and intensity of their high school years-especially in the bay area where they compete against selves,peers , siblings and the whole community. You should be able to think well -reflect what you loved- and didn't love. Please do travel-not necessarily to some exotic remote place but any where , outside Palo Alto and on your own to discover what clicks. Good Luck.

Congratulations Nick and well done on being so honest and public about your decisions for the future. We definitely need more young people like you speaking out about taking a different route after high school.

Congrats on graduating and your decision to take a gap year! We encouraged our sons to do this after Paly and they agree, it was the best decision ever. Many PA parents do not understand the incredible benefits it offers to our teens (restorative, explorative, maturing, contributing opportunities) and you have to do what feels right to you. College can wait, and it will be a better, more successful experience after a gap year (that's been proven by many). You should be very proud of yourself.

Congrats to Nick for making a great choice! I hope you have a wonderful experience.

And to the parents who "won't allow" their kids to take a gap year, you would be amazed at how many kids end up taking one in the middle of college because they were either burnt out by PAUSD or just not ready for college!

If you don't let them take a gap year--and explore the outside world--they may take SEVERAL years off-- or never return to college. Or, even worse, become a burned out, irresponsible--albeit well-educated-- shiftless adult in search of a lost childhood.

We see A LOT of PAUSD grads who turn out this way.

... and I'm proud to be one of them. ;)