Wherever you are in life, at any stage, education (college or otherwise) is one of the most important gifts you can give yourself. Life after high school is particularly challenging for any student, on the path to higher education or not. Although completely untrue, it feels as though walking at high school graduation means you have the rest of your life planned. College is always the default path, but it’s simply not the only way to succeed.
There are so many options, including choosing to even go back to school later in life. We have so many more options today than ever before. Technology and communication have opened up the world to so many career paths and opportunities. College is no longer a definite necessity or a guarantee to a job. Having seen the options in front of me, how did I personally know that college was the path for me?
My dream of a college education
Maybe it was the societal pressure that made me see college as a priority, but I always dreamed of the college experience and the independence that it brings. College is expensive, but you can make it happen if you work hard to find scholarships! College campuses are full of opportunities that are just waiting for you!
I had no idea of what I wanted to do!
I was crazy during the application season before my high school graduation. I applied for at least 10 schools! I had no idea what I was doing. I applied for music conservatories, schools with great business schools, schools in the mountains, schools by the beach, and too many schools that I could never afford. I was so confused about what I wanted my future to look like. I was set on playing the violin in college, but I was going through a hard time deciding if I wanted my entire life to be surrounded by music. My hometown university ended up being my choice because it had everything that I was looking for in a school and allowed me to explore my many options (and at a more affordable price).
I wanted to increase my knowledge of our world and my surroundings
I have always been a reserved person, and I always played life safe. I had never lived away from the place I was born. Most of my friends were from childhood. I knew that I wanted to change the way I lived my life and come out of my comfort zone. Being on a university campus, even if you commute from home like I did, you are exposed to so many new people, experiences, and opportunities. I even pushed myself to study abroad during my last year!
My education is for myself and no one else!
First and foremost, my education is my business, and it is for no one else but myself! How I receive my education is my choice. As I am transitioning out of my undergraduate years, I have been reflecting on everything that I have been through, the good and the bad. Yes, there may be many things wrong with the higher education system (no one should be walking out with a $100,000 bill), but I will never regret the opportunity to go to college. Each semester, I paid for everything myself, with the help of a few scholarships. At one point I had two majors, and even ended up changing my entire plan half-way through.
No matter how difficult it was, I will never justify why I did it. As I am solidifying my plans to go to law school and grad school, I have been receiving questions about my plan and if my choices are even worth it in the end. I have been second guessing myself, too. But then I thought, why do I need to justify myself to these people? My choices are my choices. My education is for me and for me only! I know my educational investments will be worth it in the end.
