#ramblings!!!

Sorry for not uploading for a few days waahaaa!!

i feel so fortunate to be joining such an amazing community in less than two weeks, and i cannot wait to see what the future holds for me.

maybe it’s just the circles i follow online, but there is a large presence of social media influencers who almost seem to discourage people from going to college. “college isn’t for everyone,” they say. “you no longer need a degree to have a career,” or “college is a waste of money” are common phrases often thrown around.

while, on some level, there may be truth to all of these statements, someone else’s reality doesn’t have to be your own. you will know if college is the “right” choice for you, and even if you don’t think it is, please, still take the time to explore the possibility of higher education. tour a local university. watch online campus tours on youtube. research programs and fields of interest.

a year ago, i wanted to travel the world. i thought i was going to take a gap year, but i still applied to universities as a sort of backup plan. 

thank god i did.

over time, this backup plan became what i was most excited about. i became passionate about continuing my education, and the thought of traveling the world at eighteen faded from my immediate consciousness. 

fast forward a few months, and i get accepted to all the universities i apply to. i tour uc berkeley on cal day, and the school exceeds all of my expectations. i submit my statement of intent to register. i join facebook groups, apply for on-campus housing, and get all the minuscule details sorted out. i apply to and receive scholarships, which cut my tuition in half.

i soon realize that college is definitely for me, i do need and value a degree, and that going to a large university is indeed affordable and not a waste of time or money.

i think my desire to travel was partially motivated by my insecurities and fears. the thought of going to a university and eventually entering the workforce, as most people do, is scary. not having a passion for a career or field of study is scary. finally having more responsibility as a full fledged “adult” is scary. 

of course, traveling and living an unconventional lifestyle can be incredibly rewarding. but so can college. you don’t always need to have everything figured out upon arrival--you just need to find a community you can call home and that will give you the opportunity to grow and mature. maybe you do take a gap year. maybe you do travel. maybe you start at a community college. that’s ok. just don’t rule out college because a few folks on the internet told you social media is now a viable career option or because college is now “too expensive.” there is scholarship money out there. you don’t need to cure cancer, have a handful of extracurriculars, or live below the poverty line to receive it. 

THANKSSSSS YOUUUU!!!