One day senior year, I was going on a trip with all of my friends for a class we were taking called "Adventure Bound." We were all laughing, joking and fooling around when one of the teachers started asking us where we were all going to college and what for. Some said James Madison, TCNJ, Monmouth, Penn State, all these major schools, and then it got around to me and she didn't even bother asking me. This truly bothered me, maybe because she already knew I was going to community college, or maybe because she knew I wouldn't go to a four-year school -- who knows her reason, but at that moment I felt like I wasn't good enough.

Most of my friends go to a four-year college, and at first I was really bitter about it, especially when they would come home and tell me about all of these parties, and sororities, and all of the fun they were having. I was just so jealous. I thought that could have been me. I thought that SHOULD be me. But when senior year came, I wasn't ready. There was no way I was going to fill out all of those applications, do college visits, take all of those required tests. I love my home, I love my parents, my sisters, my boyfriend, my job and I was not mentally prepared to leave all that of behind for 9 months out of the year. So community college it is.

When I first decided this, it got annoying telling people because you could hear their voice change when they would respond with, "Oh, you're only going to community college?" But I am here to tell you it was one of the best decisions of my life. As of right now I am still debt-free, which a lot of other people can't say. I still live with my parents rent-free, so I get to remain dependent on them for what little time left teetering on the still a child almost adult see-saw. My high school sweetheart and I are still going strong. I have a 3.67 GPA, so I clearly do well. I got to continue my volleyball career with my community college, which made the last two years of my life even better. I'm in no rush to finish my degree, and when I finish my Associate's I would not have needed any loans or grants to get me through it, because I work to put myself through school.

Some people ask, "But what about all the experiences you are missing out on?" And I say, what experiences do you have that I don't? Going out partying? I can do that with all of my friends too. Sleeping in a dorm with hundreds of other people? Well, I used to share a room with my sister if that counts. What about all of the sororities you could be in? Well, community college does not have sororities, but I did get into a pretty neat honor society if that counts for anything.

I'm not here to bash all of the people who went away for four years. I'm here for the people who were not ready for it, and I'm here to tell you it is really not bad. It is OK and no different of an education than going away. Accept it, enjoy it and embrace it, because you are not the only one.