So, your friends are all packed up and moved into their dorm rooms. They've taken the obligatory, "oh my gosh I can't wait to spend the next year with you roomie love you already!!!!" selfie. You've received countless texts recounting every detail of every single thing that they've done at their shining university on the hill. And where are you? You're home. Going to the community college ten minutes down the road. Oh wait, that's not a bad thing. Good for you, actually!
For the past two years I've been attending the good old College of Southern Maryland, our local community college. It's really been great. I've been able to knock out my freshman and sophomore years of college with absolutely no debt. Still living at home, I haven't had to worry about any outside expenses. The majority of the money that I've made by waiting tables at a local restaurant has gone straight to funding my two-year education. Now that it's coming to a close and I'm ready to transfer to a four-year school to finish my degree, I'm able to reflect on all the reasons why starting out at a community college was the best choice for me.
The first and most obvious reason is that it has saved me a heck of a lot of money. When it was all said and done, I ended up paying less than half of the amount of money that I would have spent on a single semester at Baylor University (the school I'm transferring to). This is not to mention all the money that I saved by not having to move out quite yet. My parents were kind enough to let me live under their roof and drive their cars for a couple extra years, saving me money on rent, utility bills, car insurance/gas, and food costs. The average room and board fees at a four year, private university can cost a steep $11,516 a year. So while all my friends were eating ramen noodles like their lives depended on it (because they did), I was at home. Chillin'. Eating food that didn't come out of a box. Who is the real winner in this situation? Hint: it's me.
Another thing that probably isn't going to come as a shock to you; most kids my age have no idea what they want to do with their lives. I honestly have not come across a single one of my peers who have started the degree program that corresponded with what they wanted to be when they grew up and actually stuck to it. I'm sure it occasionally happens, but I've never seen a case of that kind of paranormal activity. Community college is the perfect place to be when you don't know where you want to be. You can take classes on rocket science and underwater basket weaving at the same time just to see which one interests you more. There's a lot more wiggle room in a community college because you're paying significantly less money for classes. When I first started at CSM, I was a Communications major. By the end of my time there, I learned that I actually hate public speaking and presentations and... communication. I promptly switched to English, and was infinitely happier. Better to trip, fall, and make the switch close to home than to move across the country and have a quarter-life crisis because you think you've lost your calling. Going to school in your backyard makes messing up a whole lot more acceptable.
The next thing that ended up being a real perk for me is kind of sad, but it's true. When my friends left for school, I was alone for the first time that I could remember. I was suddenly faced with having to form an identity outside of the people that I hung out with. There were a lot of hobbies that I had that I never developed, simply because I never made time for them with my social schedule being so hectic. Don't get me wrong, I didn't exactly love the soul-searching and "who am I" shower thoughts that ensued the departure of my besties, but in the end, it was one of the best things for me. I learned that I actually really enjoy time by myself. I like to paint, practice hand lettering, write, and go places by myself. I learned more about who I am as an individual in the first few weeks that I was flying solo than I did during high school. This lone ranger thing didn't last long, because soon enough I made a bunch of new friends that I never would have before, being surrounded by my comfortable group. If I had gone to school, I would've had to learn to cope with being alone outside of the protection of my own home. And while that would've been absolutely doable, I'm thankful that I learned that lesson at home.
I'm not gonna lie, I wasn't always 100 percent happy with my decision to attend a community college. If you're anything like me, you constantly have a serious case of
FOMO. This feeling gets worse every time I see one of my friends make
their college decision announcement, or post pictures of their decorated
dorms. I never thought seeing so many tapestries and Christmas lights
would make me as butt hurt as it does. But, alas. The Fear of Missing
Out rears its ugly head, and I get jealous. Maybe writing this article was just a coping mechanism for me as I lose my pals yet again this fall (kidding). But whenever I start to doubt my decision to start out my education at home, I remind myself of the points that I'm leaving you all with. I've saved a ton of money, I've fallen in love with the degree program of my dreams, and I was able to pursue some of my interests without any distractions.
Going to a community college is just as respectable as going to a four year university and you should be proud of your decision to attend one if that's what you choose! Don't be in such a rush to start sleeping on a creaky mattress and calling your mom every other hour because you're having a meltdown. Relish your time at home, basking in your saved money and home cooked meals. You'll be on your way to big things soon. Oh wait, you already are.
