This is a welcome and much-needed essay for anyone who was convinced that becoming a drone was the key to "success". As a parent, I've pushed back against the norms and with a raging pandemic, I've been proven right. My son is now on his second gap year because, why not? He is a filmmaker and musician and I want him to follow that and not spend four years getting a Communications degree with a 2.6 GPA just to wish he spent two or four years at a film school when he was ready. Your essay speaks to everyone, 18-80. Even if you've given, you can still opt back out and become yourself again.