Erika Boklund has had a passion for fashion since seventh grade, but when the time came this spring to apply to college, she said no thanks.

Instead, she'll be spreading the word of God.

The Belmont High School senior has opted to take a year off before going to college, a choicesome other local graduates are making this year as well.

LORI DUFF / Monitor staff Erika Boklund (left) works on the hair of her friend Vania Crevier. Zoom Purchase Photos Online

Some friends and family members wonder if they'll ever return to school. But the students say taking a break from hitting the books is more beneficial for their education - and easier on their wallets.

The past 12 years have been more than the normal test-taking, paper-writing challenge for Boklund. A learning disability which caused her to complete the fourth grade twice has hampered her performance.

Boklund plans on enrolling in a six-month training course offered by Youth With a Mission. She'll spend three months in a classroom in New Haven, Conn., then move on to one of three countries for three months of outreach.

"New Hampshire is like a box,"she said. "The style and ways here are just so condensed. I'm tired of small-town life. I need to break out of my comfort zone."

Boklund's sister, Kristen, spentsix months in Pakistan as part of her outreach based out of Colorado. She graduated from Laconia Christian High School in 1996, and took a year off before going to Rittners School of Floral Design to travel across the country.

Concord High School senior Korinna Latchis never planned on going to college after high school, even though she's an A student. When she received a call from a friend in Germany, who stayed with Latchis during an exchange program, she figured she would take the year, and the chance, to go abroad. Wheaton College in Massachusetts gladly deferred her admission.

Latchis will spend half the year in Germany. She hopes to add the language to her repertoire of French, Hungarian and English, all the while cross-country skiing and honing her tennis skills.

"Instead of paying for whatever college classes would teach me these things, I figured I should take some time off and learn them myself," Latchis said. "It's just a waste of money to rush."

Looking ahead to next year, Latchis is a little worried about getting back into the swing of school.

"I guess it kind of bothers me,"she said, "but I'm sure it would be much easier for me to start adapting to college after taking a year off than going straight there."

A gap year - a break ranging from three months to a year after high school graduation - has been a popular option in Great Britain and throughout Europe for years.

Ideally, the respite will allow students to enter college better prepared to apply themselves and appreciate the opportunity.

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