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Taking A Break: Some Students Have To Drop Out In Order To Graduate

by Nathalie Espinol
10/10/2007

Darren Tablan dreamt of being a rockstar and college just seemed to get in the way.
“I went to college because it was what was expected of me... it felt more like an obligation rather than a choice,” he said.

Tablan, a recent Georgia State University graduate, said that during his first try at higher education, he felt “restless.” As an undeclared undergrad, he struggled through his core classes. Eventually school just fell to the wayside when his priorities shifted to his burgeoning band and work.

Most students attend college because it seems like the natural step after high school but many have no clue how to translate their real interests into a major. Consequently, some students choose to take time off from college in favor of work or alternative experiences to help them figure out how to pursue their passions.

Kasey Dutro also started at Oberlin College as an undeclared undergrad. Yet, after a few semesters, she began to lose interest in the required courses.

“I didn’t get why I had to take these boring classes when I couldn’t see how they would really help me in the long run,” she said. “Soon I stopped caring about school altogether because nothing at Oberlin seemed to relate to me.”

After her grades began to drop, the stress of school overwhelmed her and she decided to take a semester off. Dutro has since spent her break working in the kitchen of Old Edwards Inn, a 4-star hotel in North Carolina, pursuing a hands-on culinary education, work that she finds both challenging and interesting.

Only 46 percent of first time, full-time college students in Georgia actually complete a bachelor’s degree within six years of entering college, according to Measuring Up 2006, a website that posts comprehensive report cards of higher education from 50 states.

In light of the low percentage of college graduates, a degree can provide an edge in a highly competitive applicant field. Therefore, when students return to school with focus on what major they are best suited for, they can attain the degree they really want and need.

When Tablan’s rock and roll dreams died with the dissolution of his band, he worked at a desk job. Once his career proved unfulfilling, he knew it was time for a change.

Eventually he decided to return to Georgia State and finish a bachelor’s in music technology/recording. On his second try, he found that he was more motivated and goal-oriented and, therefore, more successful. Tablan now interns at a local studio in Atlanta, an opportunity he acquired through involvement with Georgia State.

When returning students start college after a break, they have a better perspective on life and a richer appreciation of the opportunities that higher education creates.

Although Dutro plans to work for another couple of months, she has definite plans to return to school and pursue a degree in the culinary field.

“I want to go back to school. I know that I need a degree to really get anywhere,” she said. “But, having lived and worked on my own, I’ve learned how to really live. Now I can go back to college with that confidence in myself that I didn’t have the first time.”