College. Oh, college. What is college? It's amazing. A place where you enter, make lifetime friends, get a degree, and do a lot of really stupid, but really fun things in between. But what else is it? Expensive as hell.

But guess what? Many people out there, myself included, pay for every penny of it, on their own.

I won't lie and say that it's a walk in the park. I won't lie and say that being a sophomore and already being $26 thousand in debt is a blast. But what I will say, is I am damn well happy and proud that I'm doing it myself. Being a working college student is tough. But there are some of us out there that manage to do it. I am proud to say that I am one of them; working 29 hours a week while taking 16 credit hours.

Again, it is anything but easy, but I've got to say, I love it. It is a fantastic feeling to know that every cent in my bank accounts is mine. I earned every bit of it with a little blood, a little sweat and a little tears (okay, a lot of tears).

I am not belittling those who are fortunate enough to have someone else, such as their parents, paying for their higher education. I think that is fabulous! I know plenty who have that opportunity and still work their butts off for everything.

However, I think that those who are (for the most part) financially on their own learn a few valuable lessons. My parents don't pay for my education, they don't pay for my clothes, spending money or miscellaneous expenses. I'm buying my own car, and paying my own rent.

Though some people may see this as things my parents are "lacking" to give me, I don't see it that way. I see the opposite. My parents put me through 12 years of private education. They gave me plenty. By not just "giving" me college, they are providing me so much more. They are providing me invaluable lessons such as the value of a dollar, that hard work really does pay off, save early and save often, the appreciation of the things you do purchase, that failing a class only hurts and costs me more money, and a strong work ethic; just to name a few.

Growing up and learning how to "adult" is really tough. But I am so happy and thankful that I am a working college student, and that I am financing it on my own.