I remember when I was a senior in high school. I couldn’t wait to graduate, leave my hometown, and start my new life of being a college student. I didn’t think twice about it. College was never a choice; it was instilled as a mandatory obligation ever since I was five. My parents, teachers, aunts, uncles, and every other adult in my life constantly preached the importance of higher education. It’s like my whole life prepared me for the most talked about, most important moment in my life: college.
In high school, college was the main topic of discussion. “Work hard and get good grades so you can get into a good college.” “ACT/SAT scores determine your educational future.” “You won’t be successful and find a good job if you don’t go to college.” “College is the only way to have a bright future.” “Without a degree, you will be a nobody.”
I’ve heard it all, and as a high schooler, it was pretty intimidating.
Looking back, I wish I heard more advice like: “College is important, but it’s okay not to go to college straight out of high school,” “You’re only 18. Allow yourself to explore and figure out what you really want to do before you make such a huge financial investment that will probably put you in debt for the rest of your life,” “Are you really ready for college?”
I never asked myself if I was ready, I just kind of jumped into it. Now, I wish I hadn’t.
I practically wasted my first two years in college because I didn’t know what I wanted to major in. Do I pick a major that I enjoy? Or do I pick a major that I know I’ll get a good job with? But what’s the point of a good job if I won’t be happy with it? What if I pick a major, graduate, and realize that I don't even like what I majored in? My path was foggy, and I had no clue where I was going. I was just walking with no direction.
I was only 18. I had barely even lived. Yet, I was expected to just know what I’m going to do for the rest of my life when I had no real time to explore my options and see what’s out there for me. I had no real time to find myself, passions I loved, or what I truly enjoy doing. Everyone just tells you to go to college, but they don't teach you how to navigate through it.
Now I’m just a year away from graduating. But if I could go back, I would do a lot of things differently. Instead of wasting my first two years of college, I would have used that time to stay home, work, and maybe even take a few classes at a community college. I would have allowed myself to save money, explore my options, and figure out what I really wanted to do with my life.
I was too quick to leave without a plan. I figured it out eventually, but had I given myself just a little more time to just live instead of rushing into something that I wasn’t ready for because that’s what society expects you to do, things would have been a lot smoother.
