My senior year of high school had it’s ups and downs; I’m sure you all can relate. From the last homecoming football game, to the last band or choir concert, to the last set of finals. It’s the first time we really go through a “year of lasts” that we will remember. And we all know what follows that: college.
Honestly, I was never super excited about college. I wasn’t super excited to move away from my family. Even now, at the age of 22, I can say that at age 18 I wasn’t ready to leave home. I had this idea that college meant going far away from your family, only seeing them over holiday breaks, and basically creating a new life in a separate place. If you’re like me, change does not come easy. When it came down to making a decision about where I would go to college, going far away from home was not a priority on my "ideal school list.”
I always played with the idea of living at home and attending a local community college. When I received a full scholarship to do so, my decision was so easy. I was able to go to school on a full ride scholarship for two years, live at home with my parents, and have time to decide where I really wanted my future to go. This decision came with a lot of feedback, though, much of which was negative. "Don't you want the real college experience?" they said. "Will you transfer to a bigger school later?" they asked.
Immediately, I was defensive when I got those reactions. First of all, where I go and what I do with my life is MY decision. I'm still going to college, so be happy for me that I'm doing that for goodness sake. It made me so mad that everyone was second guessing MY decision to go to community college. Unfortunately, people I spoke with couldn't look beyond the fact that I wasn't going away for school. But for me, that was the right decision.
Those first two years of college I spent at home were a blessing. I went to classes, babysat on the side, got good grades, and was already used to my roommates because I'd been living with them since, well, since I was born. I was able to take classes in all areas of interest and really narrow down where I wanted to pursue my four-year degree. And I was saving money while doing it.
After my first two years at home, I transferred to a four-year university far away from my family. I just recently graduated with a Bachelors degree from The University of Tulsa and I couldn’t be happier. I probably wouldn't have been able to go to TU as a freshman and I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. Sure, I didn’t have your typical college experience, going 10 hours away from home at the age of 18. No, I didn’t rush for a sorority. I didn’t go to the same school for 4 years. But I did what was right for me and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
I guess what I’m trying to say is, do what you want. Do what is right for you and don’t let the opinions of those around you impact your decision. Follow your gut and you'll be happy you did. In the end, I got my degree, formed virtuous friendships, and made memories that will last a lifetime. Cheers to getting a degree - however that might be!
