<p>Yeah, it is likely you shouldn’t go if you are firmly against it. But no one is going to fund your vacation. I know a guy who spent 2 years living in different parts of China teaching English but that was after he got a degree. I know another guy who has spent his life living in different countries, Sweden, Spain and is now in Berlin, but he has degrees and teaching credentials. </p>
<p>Travelling isn’t something you do in place of college. That is a false dichotomy. You can do both or neither too. In fact, going to college is one of the easiest ways to go overseas with the study abroad opportunities. My daughter went to Budapest for a semester and it was covered by her financial aid, she got a grant for airfare and travel money and spent a few weeks going to Ukraine, Turkey, Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, France and England. She also went to Thailand and Australia for a few weeks with her signing bonus before she started working.</p>
<p>I think you will have an easier time selling a year off as a gap year to your parents. They might feel better if you get into a college that allows deferred entry for one year. Gap year is a growing trend with recognized benefits.
<a href=“Should I take a gap year before going to college?”>http://www.slate.com/articles/life/inside_higher_ed/2014/01/should_i_take_a_gap_year_before_going_to_college.html</a></p>
<p>If you got into Princeton or UNC you might even get your gap year paid for. (But you will not get into those colleges with Ds on your transcripts, you will not be going Ivy League, show your Dad some evidence of that if needed, you can find it online.) So you will have to do some research on cheap travel, or overseas volunteering options and how much that will cost you and how much of the year you will have to work to pay for it. Did you save money from previous jobs from your travel? </p>
<p>Basically if you want to convince your parents, have a plan and do your research.</p>