Not thinking about college? Think about this…

Making the decision to attend college is life changing. Some think it’s a waste of time, others think you can’t succeed with out it. What most people don’t recognize is that college really is what you make of it. If you are scared of it, it’ll eat you alive. If you aren’t too worried about it, you may slack off too much. On the other hand, if you acknowledge it, and respect its purpose, you just might find what you are looking for.

Everyone has a fear of the unknown. If you are like me, you are or will be the first person in your family to attend college. That in itself is pretty terrifying. Looking back, I realize that there really wasn’t anything to fear. College wasn’t boring, or a waste of my time, but it was complicated though. All of a sudden you are thrown into this world of deadlines, policies, departments, advisors, deans, tuition, and loans. Deans, Dorms and Loans…Oh my! A completely different experience than what you had during high school.

Before you convince yourself that it sounds too overwhelming, keep in mind that 1) you are not alone. Hundreds and Thousands of students your age are entering college for the first time too. Don’t sweat it, you’ll meet plenty of new friends to help you along. 2) Colleges aren’t ignorant to the fact that freshman students are experiencing college for the first time. They already have programs set up to help you out! It used to be a dog-eat-dog world for higher education, but as times change, so do work ethics. In south Texas, especially, you will find an abundance of programs, clubs, societies, and students that are more than happy and willing to help out a fellow student.

Don’t throw the idea of college out the window just yet. Even if you are married, with children and a full time job, you can still attend college. There are evening courses, online courses and weekend courses available to you. Will it take you longer? Sure, but it’s a worth-while sacrifice to accomplish your goal.

If nothing else, at least give it a try. Register for classes in the next semester and go from there. You may just get hooked and become a “professional student”.