Growing up through my high school years, I had always been reminded by my teachers, counselors, and friends who had previously graduated that soon I would have to begin making decisions about my future and life after high school. I was always afraid I would not have the power to make these decisions in my life; however come senior year I managed to surprise even myself.

My high school experience has been interesting, to say the least. I have always been on or exceeding the bar when it comes to academic studies in school, but my freshman and sophomore years were rather dull. Even back in those days, I worried that I would never find my calling in life. I was taking all of these core classes, none of which excited me, and this was worrisome. I thought there was no road for me in the future, that I could not find one specific subject that I was particularly excelling in.

This changed my junior year when I took a journalism course, one unlike your average Biology or Geometry class. This class was more like an actual job. It took some practice, but halfway through the journalism class I was publishing news articles in our city’s newspaper.

Journalism was a new experience for me, which actually challenged me to break past my zone of comfort and try a new field of work. Each day attending class was more like a day at the office than at school. This new potential in writing and journalism sparked my interest in the field of communications, one which I know I can expand on by attending college.

One factor in attending college that I particularly wish to participate in is living on campus. I have lived in Nashua, New Hampshire my entire life, and seventeen years of living here has started a new interest in exploring the world outside my own.

Though it is costly, I believe that living at college will provide a significantly better experience than commuting from the same town I lived in since I was born. Living on campus is like living in a community. When I visited Dean College, they mentioned that over ninety percent of undergraduates live on campus. As I toured the beautiful college in Franklin, Massachusetts, I saw how strong a community can be when everyone is excited to take part. This is the type of experience I wish to be a part of.

Perhaps the most important reason I wish to attend college is obtaining a career which I not only can make a living off of, but one which I actually enjoy. During my years in high school, I worked in multiple grocery stores part-time for pay that could barely sustain one individual-let alone the whole family. Achieving a degree from higher education and taking that next step is all too important in achieving financial security in today’s economy.

The most exciting part is that colleges such as Dean and Curry offered programs which not only could secure an excellent paying job, but in jobs that I would truly enjoy working each and every day for the majority of my life. These colleges offer programs which actually immerse one in their field of work, live radio stations and internships to famous places such as Gillette Stadium.

The opportunity to have a job that I can say I worked hard for is beyond exciting, and the thought of making a good salary off of my passion is what motivated me to apply early to college and seek the education that will elevate me to lifelong prosperity.

My view on higher education is that college is not only there to secure a salary, but to study one’s passion and turn that passion and potential into a life of security and well-being. Although I am unsure of the exact job I wish to end up with, I am at least sure of the major which I wish to pursue in college with a passion for speaking and writing.

I am ready to attend college to expand on my limitless potential, experience a new world outside my own, and most importantly to secure a well-paying job with which I can support my family and myself.