In May 2011, I finally finished my high school career. Immediately beginning in June, I moved on to start my college career. Here I am, entering 2016, and I still haven't finished college. Sometimes I look back and realize I should already be done, that I could be enjoying a nice career right now. But sometimes, I look back and don't regret it a single bit. Sure, I could already be done with school, but then I wouldn't have had some of the amazing opportunities I have been given.
So, if you're in my position, just know that it's okay. It's not the easiest journey, but it's worth it. Some day, you'll realize that. But until then, here are a few reminders on why it's definitely okay.
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1. You learn more
That's right. You heard me. Four years in school compared to five or six means more learning! For me, I have changed my major more than once. That's usually a big reason people spend more time in school. I started in Early Childhood Education, moved onto Nursing, now back to Early Childhood. So, even though I could be living it up with a career right now... I'm very well educated in both subjects. So, maybe I'll be the only teacher on the hall who knows why the child has a cough, but hey, that's okay...I learned more. And education is important, duh.
2.You meet more people
My first two semesters of college, I met people from everywhere. Mostly just from around Georgia, but still, that was more than my small town ever offered me. Now here I am 4 years later, and not only do I know people from all around my state, but I know people from all around the world. Exploring different majors and spending more time in school has allowed me to meet so many more people than I ever would have met if I would've finished in a few short years.
3. You may end up actually saving money
Okay, so this may be a long shot here. But hear me out: you pick a major, settle on it, get a degree, work for a few years, then realize you're unhappy with that career. So you've already paid back most of your student loans upon this realization...Only to realize you now have to go back to school in order to choose a new career path...more school = more money. I do realize this could go either way. You're probably thinking, if you spend five or six years to finish school in the first place, what difference does it make? The difference is there are breaks in those five to six years. Windows for opportunity and exploration, that you wouldn't get finishing in four years. Which leads me to my next point...
4. You get breaks and endless opportunities
I may be lying if I said I have enjoyed every "break" I've had from school. There are breaks when you'll feel great about yourself, and breaks where you won't feel so great about yourself. It's all part of the process, though. Sometimes you take a break and look back on it, regretting the time you've wasted. Other times... great things happen. For example, I decided to take my first "big break" this year. I decided to do an internship with Disney, which has opened many windows and doors for me. Although I do count this as a break, I did take a few online classes just to keep my head in the game. There are so many great internships out there that can lead to a bright future with many great companies! Taking breaks also helps you realize what you really want to do. With every break, you grow. You decide if your major is really the career you want, or if it isn't. You may change your mind several times, but in the end - you'll make the right decision. It's all about time, make sure you give yourself that.
5. It's the best time of your life
No matter what you may have heard in the past about high school being the best time of your life, it isn't. College is the best time of your life. This is the time in your life where you figure out who you really are, who you want to be, and who you want to be there by your side. You meet lifelong friends, and usually, you meet the one you'll be with forever. So go ahead and drag it out a few years... you won't regret it! It's totally worth it in the end.
College has had it's up's and down's for me. I've been blessed with great opportunities along the way. I've met amazing people who I'll cherish forever. From my friends in my small town, to my friends from the United Kingdom, Peru, Brazil, etc. Everyone you come across in your college career will have some affect on your life, big or small. Don't take these years lightly. They are important and they do help form a base for the rest of your life. But also, take some time to not take these years so seriously - have fun! Taking a few extra years to finish college isn't always the answer for everyone. However, it has helped me find out exactly what I want to do with my life. Now that I have that figured out, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... and I'm running for that degree!
