My journey from high school to college feels like a blur for several reasons. One is simply the time that has passed since I graduated high school and started applying to universities. Another major factor is that I don’t feel a strong connection to that part of my life. When I graduated from high school and transitioned to being a university student, I didn’t have a clear goal or a true passion in mind. At eighteen, it’s rare to know exactly what you want to do in life or what you hope to gain from your education.

Throughout high school, I knew I was smart, innovative, artsy, and creative, with a love for digital art. Naturally, I thought the best option would be to pursue a marketing degree. In my senior year, I dual enrolled at Athens Technical College and learned to manage my school schedule while also enjoying time away from school. However, when I went off to Kennesaw State University for my freshman year, I experienced a major culture shock.

I wasn’t prepared, culturally or in terms of everyday life, for such a big shift or for being fully immersed in college. Attending Kennesaw State was my first experience at such a large university, and I was required to live on campus due to school guidelines. Without breaks from school and without my car, I felt trapped, which made it hard to focus on my studies.

At Kennesaw State, class sizes could easily exceed one hundred students, which was a drastic change from my experience at Athens Technical College. A two-year college like Athens Tech offers a much more intimate classroom setting, which allows students to engage more with their professors and classmates. These smaller classes create a comfortable environment for students to communicate with their instructors. In large university classes with eighty or more students, I often felt intimidated. I hesitated to speak up or reach out to my professors, assuming they wouldn’t be concerned with just one student among so many. Athens Technical College, on the other hand, made me feel visible as a student.

Beyond classroom challenges, the financial pressures at a four-year college are overwhelming, especially for young students. I firmly believe that financial burdens can discourage students from fully committing to their education and can even prevent some from completing school. At Kennesaw State, I not only had to worry about tuition costs, but also the added expense of dorm rent, which I was not prepared for. At community colleges like Athens Technical, there’s a clear focus on reducing the financial strain on students. They prioritize offering a less expensive option, encouraging students to choose a path that is both affordable and practical, rather than rushing into a four-year university.

While at Athens Technical College, I was also introduced to Open Educational Resources (OER), which significantly helped by providing cost-free learning materials and curricula. In my final semester at Athens Tech, I was worried about how I would afford the cost of continuing my education after completing the spring semester. Athens Tech’s commitment to OER and its focus on lowering costs made a huge impact on me. In contrast, at Kennesaw State, once I signed up for a course, I was simply informed of which books to buy, with no effort made to reduce the cost of materials for students. There were no alternatives offered to replace traditional resources, which is why I appreciate my community college experience so much more.

Community college has prepared me for a career related to my degree and provided me with valuable tools for my future. After graduation, I plan to pursue a marketing career, and I feel that I’ve reignited my passion for creativity. I currently work for a large company with many departments related to marketing, and I plan to explore career paths within my company. I also aim to enhance my expertise by earning additional certifications in marketing. I’m incredibly grateful for my community college experience and would recommend it as the primary option for students coming out of high school.