College: My Expensive Mistake

The expensive mistake that I believe I made was going to college. Yes, that is right I said it. I believe college was an expensive mistake. While pursuing my associates, I did get good grades (A's, B's and one C). In my last semester I made the Dean's lists. As you can tell I can handle the work, that wasn't the problem for me. Maybe under other circumstances I would view it differently and see more as something to feel proud about. Reading this article may make you rethink your plans of college or make you think more about your options. If you a parent, this could help you speak to your child about what they want to do rather than what you would want them to do.

My feelings towards college might stem from ideas I had before I finished High School. At first I wanted to go to college right after High School but then when senior finally came. I was still undecided on what I wanted to in life or what I wanted to major in. At first I wanted to major in Political Science because I did like reading about what was going on in Politics and learning more about the government. Yes, it was fascinating but I couldn't see myself applying this to getting a good job.

Now I am 17 about to finish High School but yet I didn't even know what I really wanted to become. I took my SAT's and got about 950. That score was pretty average. There were so many people I knew or over heard that knew what school they wanted to go and what they wanted to do. I felt all alone but yet I couldn't really show how I felt because I was the smart one. All my teachers told me I was and I knew I wasn't stupid but when you don't know what you want to do in life that alone can make a person feel rather dumb.

That is when I decided, I wanted to take the year off or six months. I didn't think it would be a big deal since I am like the second person out of 5 siblings that graduated from High school. My parents wouldn't mind and for some strange reason I even thought they would encourage it. Nope I was so wrong about that, that's all they talked about. So I had to make a choice.

The choice I decided was since I really loved computers especially Excel. I earned Microsoft Office User Specialist (use to be MOUS but now MOS) in Excel 2000 in High School. I also like the Medical Office Field, that I would just go to school for that. Since my brother received full financial aid when he went to college before going to the Navy I thought I would too.

Sadly to my surprised, I did not get full financial aid. At that time my parents had some money to help pay but I wasn't happy with that at all. I felt that it was the most idiotic thing to have to pay for education. Education is a right that all human beings should have a right to receive for free. Already I felt as if I should have stuck to my guns and took the year off. To get a job and see for myself what a good thing going to college would be for my life.

Once again when next semester came I had to go through the financial aid process. I had to take out a loan and that made me more furious. I don't like borrowing or owing anyone money. Yes, I know everyone does it but I'm not everyone. I hated it when people would tell this and that about what other people do especially those who did what everyone else does complained about it. Even though those same people told me what I was doing was a good thing because when I started I was still young (17 going to 18 in December).

College, I wish was something I could look back and smile. I really can't, I just saw it as a burden while I was attending. During my years it didn't help that I was sick a lot and missed a lot of school. That pushed back my graduation date and took me 3years to finish a 2 year school. When had to drop classed the counselors really didn't explain to me everything that I was doing would affect my overall performance.

The good I do see is I am more educated. I know more than I did at 17 in September of 03. I feel more accomplished because of being sick and going to school. I just wished that during those times I didn't feel like it wasn't my choice. I'm 22 years old now been out of school for about 6 months; looking for employment.

In the search for employment, has been a great task to complete especially when I have loans that need to be paid off. It has been more apparent of how expensive this mistake was. Mistake may not be the best word but that is how I feel. Despite that I must admit that I see now that furthering my education would benefit me and fiancé. If I do go back to school, I will appreciate it more than I did a few years ago.

I wrote this article not to bad mouth college but to offer that teenager doesn't have the words to express how they feel. To help that one kid who might want to take six month or a year off to find out what they want to do. To get a job and see how life is. So they can make that choice on their own what path they want to follow. College I believe is not for everyone because everyone is not me or you. You have your talents and I have mine and in America there is a multitude of ways to earn a living based on your talents. I know people that went to a trade school for just 6 months and have a good pay job now.

Don't limit yourself or anyone you love to just one thing, if you want to go to college that is great but if you don't that is great too. I'm not advocating that you be a lazy bum and sit around the house. No not at all get a job and while working think about the details of your position. What you like and what you don't like. Also think about how you could apply this to a better position.

Was college really my expensive mistake?? Right now I say yes. Speak to me in a year or more, I just might tell you something different. Life teaches us lessons that are seen and unseen. Don't let that one thing that people see a wonderful thing, that one thing you can't stand.