So recently, I took to Facebook and asked people, "What would you like me to write about?" and one idea offered to me I particularly liked was, "If people should go to college." Super good topic, and one a lot of young adults are forced to consider lately.

The other day in class, we had to watch the video: Voices of Debt - The Student Loan Crisis: Don't Major in Debt (I would certainly recommend any young adult contemplating going to college to watch it.) In the video, people young and old discuss how long they were in school, their major, and the practically unfathomable amount they owe in student loan debt. After the clip, my peers and I looked around at each other, completely discouraged and said, "So why are we even here?".

So, in response to the question, I am in no place to tell someone if they should or shouldn't go to college. But what I can tell you is, you don't NEED to go to college. College isn't for everyone, and that's ok!

We have it hammered into us at such a young age that college is the necessary step after high school and without it you'll end up stuck in a minimum wage job for the rest of your life, on the road to nowhere. Though contrary to popular belief, you can be successful without going to college! It just takes hard work. I know PLENTY of people who decided not to go to college and are now making an amazing salary, free from the looming stress of paying off student debt. The key (as with many other things in life) is hard work.

There are tons of factors that could influence your decision to attend college or not. Maybe college is too expensive for you, and that's completely understandable. Today, it is practically impossible to go to college without taking out student loans and for some people, that simply isn't a sensible option. Or perhaps you don't need a degree for the line of work you plan on entering, that's okay too! No matter your reason for not attending college, don't let anyone make you feel inferior because you didn't go. Work hard, and prove that you can overcome obstacles and still be successful.

On the contrary, if you do decide to go to college, there are several things you'll want to keep in mind, mostly regarding money. It's important to be financially smart. Undoubtedly, you're going to come away from college with debt. But the amount of debt you accumulate can be significantly lower if you simply use common sense. Ask yourself:

1. How much will I have to take out in loans?

2. Does the career path I'm choosing make enough money for me to pay off my debt?

3. How much can I work RIGHT NOW to offset the costs?

In my case, I pay for my own education, and I'm not quite sure what career I'd like to pursue. So in choosing a school, I knew: 1. It would be unreasonable for me to attend an expensive university because I don't have the means financially and 2. There would be no sense in accumulating thousands in debt if I'm not even sure what career to pursue yet. So after choosing a college and a major, it was time to get to work. I applied for every scholarship that I had access to, and worked three jobs over the summer to save up for my first semester. In the end, I earned enough in scholarships, and salary from my jobs, that I was able to pay for my first semester in full along with all my books.

In short, I am in no place to tell you if you should, or should not go to college. But, what I can tell you is that you can be successful either way! It just requires a lot of hard work.