From the intro post. "I am taking off the next year to study Arabic in Damascus, Syria through a study abroad program with the Ohio State University. I also will be traveling to either Russia or Ukraine in the near future to study. For now, I hope to meet new people and read, read, read all of the open source data I can find on the SF community. I feel this will help narrow my ideas and plans for my career. Once my collegiate career commences I will be better informed on which avenue I will take; the 18A route or the enlisted road."
Now that's better. Doesn't that feel better? Sure it does.

What should you do? If it were me. . . I'd find a pretty girl and invite her along! Take the break. It's a good goal, a good plan, and you'll be a greater asset in the end. Maybe you should just find pretty girls along the way.
Bad news for you Atilla