At the end of the spring semester last year, I was faced with a dilemma. I found myself more stressed out than I’d ever been in my life. I was struggling to balance school and other aspects of my life – and it was beginning to show.
When my dean noticed how much my GPA had fallen, she decided that it would be a good idea for me to explore the idea of taking a year off from school. I was completely against the idea and was horrified that she would even propose such a preposterous idea to me. In fact I was hurt and felt that she was implying that I was a failure for not being able to handle Cornell.
But further discussions with my family and my dean made me realize that I actually needed to have some time off. Now don’t get me wrong, I love Cornell and everyone on that crazy hilltop in Ithaca. but that was probably the best decision I’ve ever made.
There are many reasons to take a leave of absence, such as family issues and health concerns (both mental and physical). “I needed a break because I had a family member who is sick and I wanted to spend some time with her while she got better,” Kayla* ’12 says.
Before making your final decision, though, there are some things to consider. For instance, I’ll no longer be graduating with my original class because of certain rules the College of Arts and Sciences has in place. It’s really important to talk over the specifics of taking a break with your college dean and learn how it can affect your graduation plans.
It’s also important to remember that you’ll be separated from your friends on campus. “I used to be able to run over to your dorm room or you’d run over to mine if we had something to tell each other. Now we have to arrange Skype dates or call each other and it’s just not the same,” my friend Lauren ’13 says. Rachel ’13 adds, “Yeah, we’re a little worried that you’ll forget about us too down there in New York.”
But aside from being away from Lauren and Rachel, being back in New York has been amazing. I’ve gotten to do things these past few months that I wouldn’t have been able to do on campus, like go to Fashion’s Night Out, during which I nearly nosedived onto Russell Simmons with my five-inch heels. I also got to take a daylong tour of the city with friends and reconnect with people I’d lost touch with after high school.
So if you ever find yourself considering a timeout from Cornell life, maybe it’s time to have a chat with your dean. Even though I was resistant to the idea at first, it was the best decision I’ve ever made for myself. I knew that when I head back up to that beautiful hill this August, I’ll be refreshed and ready to take on whatever Cornell has waiting for me.
* Some names have been changed for this article.