Why Community College Could Be the Best Choice for You

All the high school preparations in the world sometimes cannot get you ready for your first semester of college. It is scary, exciting, and most of all, totally liberating. No one is telling you what to do or wear, when to go to class, what hours should be spent studying and doing homework, and when curfew is. Everyone claims to have "senioritis," but what if the symptoms took place your entire high school career? For me, high school was way too easy. I was always naturally talented at writing, so homework assignments and essays were just a matter of convincing the teacher I actually knew what I was talking about. As for my senior year, I probably attended class about 50% of the time.

My twin sister and I sat next to each other in two of our classes, and we definitely both shared a major character flaw when it came to authority. We just didn't feel it was necessary to follow the ridiculous rules high schools dictate. Why does it matter what I am wearing? Why do I have to be two minutes early to class every day? Why can't I go to the bathroom whenever I want? Why am I not allowed to wander the halls and pretend to be working? Looking back on it now, I see the importance in these seemingly meaningless rules, but then I was all about rebelling. However, in college, the absence of rules means you have to be willing to do it on your own. That was a major difference between my sister and me. We would skip class in high school, running out to our car laughing at how easy it was. She would go home, intending to do homework and study for whatever test was coming up. I would go home, intending to sleep, meet up with friends, or do anything to avoid schoolwork. We both received Honors Diplomas at graduation, however I knew I was not known as the "smart twin," which was completely fine with me. Then came college.

In high school grades are on a daily basis. If you miss class, you have "make-up work." Five-point assignments are turned in daily. If you fail one, there are a million others left to maintain a good grade. College was different, it surprised me and I immediately knew I was not at all prepared. It was almost funny to me when I realized that THIS is why people tried so hard in high school, because in college you're out of time! If you don't know how to study and make yourself do the work, you will fail. Here are some things I have learned over the years that I wish I knew as a graduating senior in high school.

If you're not sure of your college plans, don't waste your money (or your parents' money).

I had planned on going to Bowling Green University. Then I planned on going to Ohio University. Then I realized... I had no idea what I was planning on. A degree is a degree, going away to a well known and respected college is not going to help you if you end up failing out the first semester. So I stayed home, and went to community college. Thank god for that, because my first five classes came as a total shock to me, and I would never have survived all the temptation of being away at school. The minute I turned eighteen, I no longer had a curfew. My parents gave up on enforcing rules at this time, realizing that the ones I had objected to before were in no way going to be easier to maintain now. I loved being free. I loved being able to do what I wanted, when I wanted, and no one would call my house if I didn't show up to class or wasn't "living up to my full potential." I drank every night, I slept all day, I would randomly attempt to study at two or three in the morning, before a test at eight. If I had gone to BG or OU as planned, I would have wasted thousands of dollars in student loans that basically went toward an extended vacation. So do not worry about being labeled one of "those kids" who attend community college. It's much worse to be one of "those kids" who fail out of school and have to return home to unhappy parents. Not to mention they are jobless, broke, and less likely to quickly bounce back from the experience. You, on the other hand, will be more prepared. If you fail classes, you retake them and save your books. You waste about 1,200 dollars instead of 23,000. It's probably even less than $1,200 because most community colleges offer small scholarships to a large number of students, rather than the high-paying scholarships that are necessary for students to actually afford a four-year university.

Take advantage of the fact that you can work more hours than the average college student.

Online classes ended up being my favorite thing about community college. Students living in dorms or on college campuses are ALWAYS complaining about being broke. Hint: paying much less for school and working more hours due to excess free time means having more money! Take advantage of living at home. Free food, free room and board, more spending money and no enormously ridiculous student loans. If you come from a really wealthy family and are naturally a genius at every subject without effort, this is great. Go away to school, don't work, and make good grades while partying all you want. The rest of us "average" people will learn about the real world. I love working, because I love having my own money. I worked full-time almost every semester through college and was also a full-time student. If learning to work hard for yourself was as hard as it was for me, learn what motivates you. For me it was knowing that I hate school and want to work, so I have to force myself to get through school so that I CAN work and make more money while doing it! Today it is hard to reach success without some sort of college degree. But that does not mean that where it came from matters all that much. I'll say it again: A degree is a degree.

DON'T listen to your annoying friends who think they are better for attending a four-year university. Nothing in the world is more irritating to me then listening to one of my friends complaining about how tough school is, then say "well it's different for you because you go to a community college." Um, yeah, it is different. I have a full-time job and other responsibilities besides drinking and gaining the freshman fifteen. You live in a closet with your new best friend, include fast food in your daily diet, and think beer and cigarettes make you a person of deep, intellectual thought. Hmmm. Don't complain about being poor when every check from work or mom and dad goes right to beer, more cigarettes, and crappy food. If I decide to do those things with my money, which I might, it is only a fraction of my spending. J

College doesn't have to be stressful! It can be fun, and it can be easy. Just don't get in over your head. The same expectations others have may not work out for you! We shouldn't let people convince us of what "success" is, it is whatever makes you happy. Whatever degree you want or job you have, if it makes you happy, kudos to you. In the real world, you are the only person with authority over your own life. Learn to appreciate that and use it.