"Crazy."

That is the one word I hear most often when I tell people how much college is costing me.

"Why would you do that to yourself?"

"You're not going to make that much when you graduate."

These are the comments that frustrate me the most when friends or family try to make a comment on my college education.

Isn't it my decision? If I want to be in debt, can't you just let me?

Being from a little town in Pennsylvania, I wanted more. I wanted more for my education and for my life than what I had in PA. Leaving would come with a price, however — an almost $200,000 price. To most people, that price would've caused them to stay put and not try to leave, but that price was worth it to me. I was ready to leave and I was ready to start my life far away from home. I packed up my bags and left for Rhode Island where I would begin to rack up that large sum of debt.

Going into my second year at the University of Rhode Island, I am more than $40,000 in debt. That number is very large and it's more than some people make in a year but it's how much it costs for me to follow my dreams.

Studying Wildlife and Conservation Biology at URI was my choice and I don't regret it. No other school that I looked at had such an amazing program as URI has. I'm doing what I love and I can't wait to make a career out of it.

I shouldn't have to explain my reasoning to anyone.

No one is paying for my college except for me and I'm not upset that I'm already drowning in debt.

My accumulating college loan debt is my proof that I followed my dreams and didn't let money stop me from that.