College, It's Really Worth It

The are constantly more and more articles out there explaining why you need to go to college if you want to live a comfortable life. I read some and they have some really good points that everyone should know. I am in college right now partially because of those reasons. I really want a good job and money and all that jazz but a good job may not be enough for some people to face the struggle that is college. Those people should know that there are other reasons why college is important and why it should be on a list of things to complete before dying. I'll admit my reasons aren't measurable in the way that wages and jobs are but they are just as important.

I know everyone has heard that before and there is some truth in it. Don't get me wrong, there is value in knowledge and hard work. However, favoritism can work in your favor if you know the right people (you also have to stay in their favor but that is a different hub). So basically you need to know people and a good place to meet people is in college. I'm only a sophomore and I have met so many interesting and promising people. It's almost like all the best and brightest of the future congregate at college...

If you are like most high school students you probably have never been away from your parents for a significant period of time. You may not want that to change and it doesn't have to, not a lot anyway, but college is your chance to wean yourself off your parents. You can go as far from your parents as you want or you can stay close to home and still be independent. College is like the real world but smaller and with more safety nets. You are in charge of your own schedule, the food you eat, the clothes you wear, you're the boss! At the same time you don't have to worry about things that would be an issue if you just moved out. You will usually be guaranteed food through a food plan, you probably won't have to cook a whole lot (so you don't even need to know how!), and your parents are footing the bill! It's somewhere between the perfect existence and living in your parents basement rent free but minus the shame.

If you go to college straight after or very soon after high school you are in the age range known as your "prime". The teenage mentality is still strong enough that you think you are invincible but now you can drive and at some point, drink (neither are necessities). Not only are you in your prime most of the students around you are in their prime too. Everyone is priming together, it's a fantastic group of people doing fantastic things to better themselves and maybe the world. Of course, you still have to do work but when you aren't working the activities available are endless. Plus the parties are like none that you will be able to have unless you are rich, popular, and have complete disregard for the party location.

It's easier now than ever to go back to college no matter what age you are but you will miss out on some of the benefits I mentioned earlier if you don't go sooner. Let's be honest, if you don't go to college as soon as you can every year it gets harder and harder to go back. Not just mentally but you might just have other things to deal with, kids, a real job, a spouse, etc. I have two work study jobs and that makes homework hard enough, a full time job and classes would be be draining on anyone. Online college doesn't have the camaraderie that a dorm has. On top of that I know even a summer of non school learning makes it tough for me to get back into the swing of things when I get back to class, I couldn't imagine taking a 10 year hiatus. That's not to say that you shouldn't go back but if you are going back go back as soon as possible, for your sake.

Don't worry college won't kill you it might just feel like it sometimes. I'm in college now, I get it, it's hard. I can't lie it can really stress you out but when you weigh your options you have the stress of college on one hand and the stress of being an adult out of high school on the other. I pick college stress. Even with that choice college isn't all stress and never has been. Ask anyone who has been to college, they have stories to share and friends forever. If you ask me I'd say that's worth it.