When I found out senior year of high school that I could not afford to attend a university, I was crushed, confused, hurt, and embarrassed. Community college was not somewhere I wanted to go and it was not somewhere I thought I belonged. I thought it was somewhere underachieving students went or where young adults who wanted to keep their parents mouths about college shut went. I was wrong. I was so wrong.
Community college has been beneficial to my career, my college education, my college experience, and my bank account. Like many students I have to pay for my own tuition. For anyone who has to pay for their schooling, every dollar you make is prioritized towards your tuition. I have literally saved thousands on an education that drew from the same curriculum as a regular four year university.
Many of my professors taught at private or public universities simultaneously. They would hold the same classes at our local university for triple the price I was paying. I thought it wouldn't be possible for me to even attend a four-year because of the amount of student loans I would have to take out. But, having spent a fraction of the price on my first few years at a junior college, the burden I feel on paying for school has diminished.The money I have saved will go to furthering my education after attaining my bachelors degree.
I thought I knew what I wanted to do as a career, but I changed my major four or five times. Taking a variety of classes aided me in developing my current interests and future career endeavors. I realized I loved politics, history, and public speaking! I felt a pressure with needing to know what I wanted to do as a career at only 16 years old. If I had gone with the interests of my 16 year old self, then I would be seriously disappointed. Since I got a better grasp on what I liked, I was able to find and apply to universities that catered better to my intended major. My interests in these subjects continued to expand as my professors helped me with educational books and job opportunities.
Just because I went to community college doesn't mean I didn't have a college experience. There are sports teams, a huge amount of clubs, volunteering opportunities, on campus work, school activities, etc. You make your experience and you are in charge of the friendships you choose to build. I didn't want to get involved and didn't want to form any type of relationship. However, being bitter about where I was at that point in life only caused me more distress. I accepted where I was and loved the friendships I built and the amazing courses I took.
I went to community college. It's a place for truly anyone. Its for those who want to save money, those who didn't get into their first choice college, those who don't know what to do as a career, or for those who just want to learn. Community college helped me and I am not shamed I went to one.
