Should I take a gap year after highschool?

Ok. Dilema. I graduate from highschool at the end of this year and was planning to take my gap year off?

• for my gap year I was planning on either backpacking around Europe or working for 12 months. Recently I received a partial scolarship to study in America for 12 months (there I will be completing their equivalent of yr 12). My father doesn't agree with this. He wasn't willing to pay for my (solo) backpacking expedition, and he doesn't want me to go to the and he doesn't want me to work. He wants me to go directly into Uni. He has offered to pay $10,000 off my uni fees if I forget about America. I really want to go to the U.S, and I can afford it myself, but then I will be paying HECS debts for a while. What should I do?

• Answer:

  Tough one. It would take a lot for me to turn down a chance to study in another country, but $10,000 is a lot. But I can help you reduce your choices. Working for a year before you start school would be a waste of time. You can work part time while you're in school if you need the money, but you're sure to make more money working after you've graduated. But expanding your horizons in new places is not a waste of time. But keep in mind that travel is going to get more and more expensive in the next few years.