I Didn’t Go To College, and I Don’t Regret My Choice. Here’s Why.
School was never the right choice for me.
My senior year of high school was easier than most people’s.
I didn’t take AP classes or tests, I didn’t study for the SATs, and I didn’t care if I received F’s on my finals. I didn’t even take a math class!
I didn’t have to care because I wasn’t going to college.
I didn’t have to worry about applications or whether or not I’d get accepted to my preferred college.
Not everyone will agree with your decision to skip out on college
As easy as my senior year was, not everyone agreed with my choice to not pursue a “higher education.”
My senior year I had not one, but two people tell me I was going to end up homeless and living in a box. One told me not to call him when I needed his help.
Some family members ask me to this day (it’s been three years since I graduated) why I don’t go to college so I can get an excellent job one day.
I think some people give you this spool because they care about you, and they want to know you’re doing something great with your life. That you’re safe.
But, honestly? I think others are just discouraging assholes.
Your comments will not force me to back down
Too many people care about what others think.
Society’s opinion, or their friend’s or parent’s opinion, force people to go to college, to work jobs they hate, to do things they’re not happy with doing.
It’s one reason why some people who didn’t go to college regret it. Because there’s too much negativity aimed toward them.
But I don’t regret my choice.
The people telling me to go to college, to get a “real job,” have their opinions, and I have mine. I don’t think anyone is either right or wrong.
I do know that this is my life, and if I didn’t ask for your input on how to live it, you shouldn’t give it to me.
Why I don’t regret not going to college
I don’t regret not going to college because I knew school wasn’t the right choice for me.
I just felt it in my gut.
I can’t regret something that felt like the best decision for me — something that continues to be the best choice for me.
Maybe some people think I regret not going to college because I haven’t seen any “real success” with my blog or writing yet, but I don’t.
It’s only been three years since I started my blog. And really, only one year since I decided I wanted to be a writer.
Let me ask those parents who have kids in college this: Your kids have been in school for three years — are they successful yet?
Obviously not. So, if you’re not pressuring them to succeed, why do you pressure me?
I love my life
Is it hard sometimes? Yes, of course. But life is hard whether you go to college or not.
I love that I don’t have to go to classes I dread because they have nothing to do with my major. I like that I control my schedule. I love being a blogger and a writer and taking risks.
I don’t feel like I’m missing out, or that I’m not intelligent enough. I don’t feel insecure, or like I’m going to fail in life.
Not going to college was the best decision I could’ve made for me, and I’m not going to regret it.
So, please — stop trying to convince me otherwise.
