“You know you are going to be in a lot of debt.” “What’s the point of going to college if you have thousands of dollars to repay?” “Plenty of people have been successful without a college education.” If you have been told any of these phrases, you are not alone.

Yes, I know college is expensive. It's common knowledge. However, by telling me that it is overpriced or a waste of time will not change my mind about pursuing my academic dreams. Honestly, the negative comments about my personal choices in regards to college make me want to excel even more in school.

Maybe I’ll get a master’s degree and possibly even a doctoral degree. Perhaps I will run my own magazine or land a job on Wall Street. I possibly could become a teacher or become a lawyer. All of these dreams start with an education, so I am sorry to break it to the people who are anti-college, but in order to be successful in this day and age, college is where it all happens.

Additional side note to the people who tell me that I am going to drown in debt: you are probably right, but receiving a higher education is more than just debt; it is about furthering one's education about the world we live in, broadening your horizons, and becoming an intelligent person who will contribute something to society one day.

College is about the life-long friends, the shitty mistakes and failures, the internships, the networking opportunities, and most importantly, the college experience. By the way, why is the “college experience” looked down upon? Why do some believe the college experience is not an important part of life? I am here to say that it IS an important part of becoming an adult. You grow into a better version of yourself, you start forming an opinion that is not influenced by others, and you take classes that could change your perspective on life. College is when the transition from being a kid to becoming an adult occurs, and it’s pretty freaking scary, but amazing at the same time.

Learning how to be an adult, making your own decisions, and starting a future begins with college. The debt students receive after school eventually gets paid off, but the education received during college lasts a lifetime.