At the end of our senior years of high school, we are all saying goodbye to the friends we have made and will miss and say hello to a new life. For many students they are about to embark on a new journey, a chance at freedom and independence and preparing to become an adult. But in this day and age there is also a lot of advocating done by parents to get their children to consider going to a community college in order to save a bit of money due to the growing cost of education. For many people this is the right decision, especially for those who are undecided on what they want to do for a career. Personally, I was capable of handling the rigors of a four year school, but I also had the opportunity to go to my local community college for free, something that would be hard to pass up.

Despite living at home, I truly enjoyed my freshman year of college. I made amazing friends from playing volleyball. I got to travel across the country for the sport I loved and truly felt like a part of a community going to the school. I might not have had as much freedom as I could've, but I also didn't have to worry about trying to find a decent meal every night or getting homesick from not seeing my parents for months on end. With plenty of high school credits that I completed through my community college, I was able to graduate with an Associates Degree in a year.

Having no debt built up, I was able to study abroad in Ireland for two weeks with money I got from scholarships over the past year - an experience I will always treasure. Furthermore, since I was already ahead in my studies I was able to partake in the Disney College Program in the Fall of 2015. The program allowed me the chance to work for a world renowned company and get great resume building experience. It also allowed me to get a taste of living away from home and what it would've been like going away to school. Now I have started at University at Buffalo, where I am on track to graduate in May 2017. I am currently commuting for the spring semester which, while it can be tough to find the motivation to drive the 45 minutes to go to class, is nice because it gives me the chance to reconnect with my parents after being away and not have to worry about paying bills.

Now I know that my college experience isn't the most typical. Not everyone has the means to do things like study abroad or take time off to do a program like the one at Disney. Some people (not me!!) have the money for or are willing to take out loans to fund their education. And while I might have to take out some sort of loan regardless, it just wasn't feasible for me to go 50k or more in debt to get a more "typical" college experience. So I write this article for people who have chosen an unconventional path to get their education. Whether you decided to commute to save money, or attend a community college because you weren't sure what you wanted to do for a career, it's okay to not do what is typically expected coming out of high school. There are also a lot of people who receive no help from their parents at all to fund their education and have to work full time to cover expenses while taking classes and even they can have an enjoyable, albeit different, college experience as long as they pick a school that is conducive to their needs.

It can be tough to think about what fun experiences I might have missed out on by dorming, but when that happens I just try to remember everything good I've had. Living at home means I don't have to deal with homesickness and missing parents that I'm very close with. I can walk downstairs to cabinets full of food and not have to deal with dorm dining. I don't have to worry about possible poor quality living situations or an annoying roommate with a weird schedule; I get to sleep in my own comfy queen-sized bed every night. I don't have to deal with the stress of student loans looming over me, I can just enjoy taking classes and getting a job that I enjoy, not one that makes me a ton of money right away. I have the ability to visit my friends at their respective schools whenever I want, but then can still come home to a nice warm house and get a break from the college scene.

It's also important to keep in mind that many people try the college experience and end up hating it. Whether it's a tough roommate situation or just that the school isn't the right fit, even with the best intentions they might find themselves coming home every weekend. For me, school is hard enough to not have to worry about coming back to my room and deal with a fighting roommate or running out of money on my dining plan. While I have to deal with some family issues and going to work, I think commuting has also taken some of the burden off of me. It may not be what's right for everyone, but my unconventional experience has been what's best for me. So while it may be tempting to leave your hometown behind and go away for school, sometimes you shouldn't follow the norm. You have to figure out what is best for you and your financial situation. Just keep in mind that whatever path you decide to take will work out in the end, as long as you're doing what will benefit you the greatest in the long run.