I was a transfer student; I attended my local community college for a year before transferring to USC back in the Fall of 2017. Attending community college was one of the smartest moves I made because it gave me the extra year that I needed to slow down my roll, think about my interests, and where I could envision myself going with them.

Often times, we feel social pressure to jump straight into a four-year university after high school. And if we don't, we may experience FOMO (fear of missing out). I have witnessed many of my own peers rushing to commit to a four-year school, then soon after, dropping out after a semester or two and coming back home to attend community college because they need some time to figure things out without having to pay loads of money for it. Why should we have to pay thousands of dollars to explore our potential passions and interests? That is just exploitation of our education if you ask me.

If you think about it, 18 is pretty young to know what you want to do in life. I'm still figuring it out and I'm more than halfway done with my undergraduate studies. So, what's wrong with attending a community college for a few years to affordably explore interests and maybe even find one that sticks. Community college is underrated if you ask me. Sure, going to a great four-year university is one thing. But what's the point of paying thousands of dollars toward a degree you may be unsure of when you could have alternatively attended a community college to help you find your true passion, perhaps.

My point here is this: don't let peer pressure influence your personal and unique academic pathway. Everyone is different and success does not come from a fancy college brand. It comes from hard work, whether it is at a four-year or a community college. If you're fresh out of high school and need some time to explore but still want to start your college education, consider attending a community college for the first year or two because it can be a great alternative leaving you even more confident.