There aren’t a lot of people in our society who have the opportunity of attending college at no cost. I was one of the lucky ones who had that choice. I didn’t have this opportunity as a result of hundreds of scholarship applications, or being so knowledgeable that all the schools made me an offer. I had the chance because a family member worked for the college. Because of this, any child could attend that university tuition-free, upon acceptance. Free college is free college, right?applications, or being so knowledgeable that all the schools made me an offer. I had the chance because a family member worked for the college. Because of this, any child could attend that university tuition-free, upon acceptance. Free college is free college, right?

My oldest sister was the first to turn it down, and my middle sister followed. By the time my turn was coming, my parents had the plan of action premeditated:

“You can still live in a dorm.”
“You can enroll at a different campus.”
“…You won’t have student loans to pay off.”

My mind was already made up, and while coming out of college debt-free was tempting…there was nothing my parents could say that would change my decision. Still, I wanted to avoid the lectures my sisters received so I chose to tell them otherwise.

It wasn’t until my senior year of high school when they became aware of my true plan, unexpectedly. Here I am walking out in front of my entire school, arm in arm with both of my parents.

“Aubreigh Elizabeth Ulicki.”
“Aubreigh has participated in … … …”"
“Aubreigh plans on attending Michigan State University in the fall…”

Oops. I guess I should’ve had that conversation prior to. My parents were shocked but forgave me shortly after, and I went on to attend Michigan State the following fall. Many people would say I made a big mistake. There are kids who would be ecstatic if they got to go to college, let alone for free. I could be spending my paycheck the way I see fit, instead of paying off interest that’s been building up for 3+ years.

I’m incredibly grateful I had that opportunity, but I had a vision in my head and the university I could have attended for free was not a part of it. Here I am, three years post-graduation, paying back thousands of dollars in student loan debt – and do I regret it? Absolutely not.

Here’s why.

I needed to move out of my hometown.
Some are completely comfortable staying in their hometown their entire lives, but for others, we need to branch out. Whether it’s because our curiosity is high or our tolerance is low, we need to explore other parts of the world. We need to be on our own. We need to learn how to handle our own. Because of this…

I needed to understand responsiblity.
It’s up to you to get up for that 8 a.m. class. It’s up to you to turn in your weekly assignments. It’s up to you to clean your living space. It’s up to you to do your laundry. It’s up to you to manage your finances. And it’s up to you to find the balance you need. I’m not saying we lose all support when we move away from home, but that support is less available. It’s the first time we’re truly responsible for how we handle our day-to-day activities.

I needed to make mistakes.
Because we’re getting used to handling these new responsibilities, we’re going to make mistakes. Failure will always be a part of life, and our college years are when we’re first introduced to the repercussions. At the end of the day, the countless mistakes we make prep us for what is to come, and we learn how to handle those situations better.

I wanted to meet new people.
People always say the friends you make in college are the friends you’ll have for life. You meet a lot of people when you move away from home and there are usually a few that stick. Whether it’s in in the dorm, in class or at a party…friendships are formed everywhere. These are the people you come to depend on when that responsibility gets too overwhelming.

I needed a greater sense of self-awareness.
You learn a lot about yourself when you’re finally on your own, and you learn how to be comfortable in your own skin. Transitioning from a high school where your graduating class totaled 76, to a college with more than 50,000 students, is a BIG change. I can truly say I was worried as to how I would make that adjustment. But when you’re walking to class, eating lunch in the café, or cheering among thousands in a football stadium…you realize everyone’s in the same boat. It doesn’t matter where you came from, you all have this in common. Some people are like you and some aren’t, but everyone is accepted. You’re OK for who you are.

Throughout my time at Michigan State, the lectures my sisters received were always in the back of my mind. Sure, I’m loving life now but will I regret this once I graduate? Will it matter then? I think others in similar situations would agree, attending the college you’ve always envisioned yourself at is the best decision you’ve made.

If I’ve done one thing right throughout my 23 years of life, it was sending in that application. I stand by my decision of choosing green and white, and I’m proud to say that I will always be a Spartan.