When I enrolled to do my Masters of Teaching I had already been at uni full-time for four years. I had intended to take a gap year after year 12, but all my friends were going into full-time work or uni and I didn’t want to get left behind.

And while going to uni with no idea of what I wanted to do with my life was the best decision I made back then, it turns out taking a year off was the best decision I made for right now.

Don’t Keep Going Because You Feel Like You Have To

I got three weeks into semester one of my masters. Census date was coming up and I hadn’t even opened a textbook or checked my emails. I’d watched one lecture in the first week and that was it.

I was burned out. I knew I had to do something but I wasn’t sure what. I didn’t want to waste a year and be a year behind but I didn’t want to have to explain to my parents why I wasn’t going uni. Most of all, I really didn’t ever want to think of myself as a dropout.

Most of all, I really didn’t ever want to think of myself as a dropout.

It got to the point where I went to see a counsellor who made things very clear. There’s no point forcing yourself through uni if you don’t actually want to be there.

If you’re not giving your degree your best, you’re only going to feel disheartened when you see your grades. If nothing else, there’s no reason to add to your HECS debt if you’re not sure you want to be there.

Don’t Feel You Need To Trade Uni For A Full-Time Job

My plan for deferring was that I was going to earn some money. I figured I couldn’t consider the year a waste if I had something to show for it.

And while I did pick up some more hours, I found out that full-time work is as much effort as a degree. I spent a bit of time applying for full-time jobs (or ‘adult jobs’ as I told my friends), but I also found ways to make my current job a bit more fulfilling.

I switched positions, picked up some more shifts and learned new things – all things I couldn’t have done if I were still struggling through a degree I wasn’t sure about. I also found space in my life for myself.

Put Yourself First

In my four years of uni, I had barely done anything for fun. I hadn’t read a book of my own choosing, I’d had to nod politely on countless occasions as people described what Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad were about, and simply planning a holiday took months of work.

Deferring is not failing, it’s giving yourself time to make sure you don’t fail or make mistakes.

Now I’m eight months into my year off. I’ve read more than I have in the past four years, and caught up on a lot of TV (which is impressive considering reruns were my go-to procrastination method).

I exercise more than I did during uni and I eat better. I’m a better cook. I actually go to social functions. My mental health is better and I have the time to travel.

This is what I know: you’re not weak or stupid for deferring, or even for considering it. Deferring is not failing, it’s giving yourself time to make sure you don’t fail or make mistakes.