High school is supposed to be the best time in a person’s life, but personally I think college is. College changes people for the better, and helps them experience things they never have before. Here are a few reasons why college is so much better than high school:

1. Freedom

Going to college means instant freedom. Although this can be hard in the beginning, it really allows you to grow as a person. In high school things are almost always the same, while in college, when you get bored of something, you have the freedom to change it. High school doesn’t allow people to grow because everything always stays the same. In college, you can be whoever you want to be, and there is no one to stop you or tell you otherwise.

2. Less drama

High school was all about drama. In college, judging people by what they wear or who they hang out with isn’t a thing anymore. Being a part of a community that is so friendly makes the experience much better. Students gain tons of confidence at college, because in most cases they feel free to be who they want to be. The level of maturity really grows between high school and college, which makes being on campus better for everyone.

3. Classes mean something

Rather than having hours of busy work, almost all college classes mean something. In high school the classes were only working you towards college, which is exciting, but not as exciting as working towards a degree that you want. Most of the work given in college actually helps you do better on quizzes and exams. Going to college is a choice, more than high school seems to be, therefore the people who are in your classes are more motivated, just like you.

4. True friends

One of the most important things that comes with college are the friends that you make. Whether you go greek or not, there are so many people on and around campus. The amount of people that you meet just like you, or even the ones that are different but become your closest friends, will surprise you.

5. Support

Of course the new friends you make at college will be one of your biggest support systems, but outside of that there are tons of areas of support on campus. There are tutors for everything, counselors, advisors and clubs. I was shocked at the amount of support that was available to all the students on campus at Washington State University. You can get help with anything if you try hard enough.

So why does it matter if college is better than high school? The summer before my first year of college I was constantly worrying about every little detail about the upcoming year. I stressed myself out much more than I needed to. Although college can be the scariest time in a person’s life, once you get there, it all works itself out. Whether you loved or hated high school, college will be better. Don’t get caught up in worrying about how everything will work out. College will make you an even better person than you already are.