[Voltron87]

I need to figure out something to do for the next 9 months of my life. I am 18 right now, and am going to college in september. I have done my early application, that stuff is pretty much finished (unless I don't get in, I should though. I find out Dec 15th.)

I would be content with waking up at 11, lounging until 4, going and working out (I am an athlete and will play in college, its squash btw), getting back at 8 to play poker until I do whatever I'm doing that night. This appeals to me because I'd have a great time and I could make a ton (relative to every other 18 year old HS grad) of money. Once I get into school and get that locked down I could travel in the spring/summer. Sounds great, right. Well the only problem is that my parents kind of want me to do something which they think is more constructive. Which they do have the right to do, given that they've paid for my school, I'm living in their house, and they will be paying for my college (no small feat, hopefully i'll be going to upenn). My parents have finally wrapped their heads around how much money I am making from poker, which they at first were skeptical of, but now they realize that there is no way I am going to work at Applbee's because the money is nothing. They want me to get a resume building internship or something like that. They don't want me to be wasting this time doing something which looks like a huge gap in my life to future employers. I don't really agree with this, because I am doubtful that anything I do now will really be meaningful on a resume in the future. I think when I am 22 and out of college doing whatever I will be doing (who knows) employers will not care. I would rather play poker, have a good time, save up some money, and then go to college.

So, my question is, first, how right are my parents? Will a job I get really make a big difference on my resume and if I don't do anything except poker/traveling will it really be a bad looking gap? And if I did want to find something to do, what should it be? Pleasing my parents and having them satisfied with what I'm doing will definitely make life easier. I dunno what my professional interests are yet so what are some open ended ideas for stuff I could do? It could be non profit, an internship, anything.

I am in this weird situation because I skipped 2 years in grade school and graduated from HS at 16. Right now I am 18 and when I go to college next september I will be average age and come in as a standard freshman.