Not everyone is mature enough or ready for college after high school, and that's ok. I might get some backlash from this statement, but I'm here to share my story and if you're like me, that's ok.

My mom had always told me I was never a school person, and to this day I'm still barely a school person. I hate studying and I HATE taking tests. Not that any person enjoys either of those things, but for me personally, I get lazy and sometimes fail to give studying and test taking my all.

As soon as I graduated from High School, I headed straight to college, and now that I'm older I realize I wasn't ready to take on that responsibility. I wasn't mature enough to take the education aspect of college seriously enough, and that was the most important part. I was extremely lazy and got by with C's and D's, I made working a minimum wage job more important than getting good grades, and overall I just made no effort to do well in school. Hanging out with my friends, and making a few hundred bucks here and there was more important to me than getting my degree.

Community college is a great stepping stone for people, especially people such as myself. Not only is it affordable, but it's also a good choice if you're unsure of what you want to do. Community college allows you to try different classes and clubs and figure out what you want to do in life. In addition, it helps to determine whether you want to go away to school after two years or stay close to home; whether you want to go to a big campus or little campus. But mostly, it helps you figure out what you want to major in.

While I did take in some of these benefits, I did not soak in enough of what community college had to offer. While I don't regret the first two years of my college experience, I definitely do wish I did more in those first two years. But someone once told me that the first two years is the time to goof off and have fun. Classes are basic and easy, and you're just beginning to learn what school life is like "off of a leash."

So while I am glad I took that time to let loose and be immature, at the same time I wish I had been more mature to appreciate some of the benefits I neglected in community college. In the end though, it all seemed to work out ok for me.

I took off a semester and a half off during my sophomore year to just work, make money, and have fun. While I don't regret that, I do regret not being mature enough financially. In the semester I took off, I made a decent amount of money for a 19 year old. But did I save any of it? Unfortunately, no. I wasted all of that money on meaningless presents for myself, clothes I don't wear anymore, and fattening food I definitely don't eat anymore. So while taking time off from college was a good choice, I definitely wish I was more mature to understand that if I'm making all of this money, then I should be saving some of it.

The big question still lingers, "When do you realize you're mature enough for the responsibilities of college?" Well, the answer is simple. It's up to you and when you believe you're ready to take on that responsibility.

The moment when I realized I was mature and ready for college was when my dad passed away. My dad had passed away when I was 21, and I promise that nothing in life helps you mature faster than the loss of a parent. Maturity hit me like a bus that year. It was my last semester of community college and while I was doing okay, I still didn't give it my all.

My dad passed away in April, and May was finals. After taking a few weeks off from school, I had to go back. I couldn't avoid it. I don't know what happened, or how it happened but when I went back, I didn't want to be lazy anymore. I wanted to do well. For not only myself, but for my dad. My parents biggest dream in life is to see me graduate from college. All my dad ever wanted was to see from me was to get my education and get my degree. And I have made it a goal ever since.

That semester I ended up with the highest GPA I could ever remember and with outstanding comments and grades from all of my professors. Nothing made me feel more proud. Ever since, I have worked hard to take school seriously and to get that degree. While I am behind in getting my degree, I have made up for it by successfully working three internships, winning my college blog contest, writing for Odyssey, and consistently raising my GPA. While my dad's passing was tragic, it was also the reality check I needed to push me to grow up and get that degree, and for that, I'm glad.

So if you're like me, not everyone is ready for college and that's ok. We're told we have to go straight from high school to college. We're told at the age of 18, we need to know what we want to do with the rest of our lives. And we're made to feel different if we don't finish college in the four-year time frame.

Here's a reality check, IT IS OK TO NOT BE READY.

Nothing is scarier than adulthood, believe me. I'm 23 now and I'm still scared. So for those of you who aren't ready for college, DON'T WORRY. You'll have your moment when you realize it's time to take college seriously, or you might find college isn't for you and that's okay, too. Growing up is all about making mistakes and learning from them. I've made my fair share of mistakes in life...in fact, I'm still making them! Everyone gets through life differently, so just do you.

And honestly? You'll figure the rest out along the way!