Don't Rush, Your Whole Life Is Ahead of You by Diana

Don't Rush, Your Whole Life Is Ahead of You by Diana - April 2016 Scholarship Essay

I think the most important piece of advice I could give younger students is to really be honest with yourself and know whether you are ready to be serious about getting your education. I've seen it happen so many times since I finally started college; kids right out of high school in my classes who don't take it seriously and disappear half way through the semester. Considering the enormous cost of college and the time necessary to do well in classes it is imperative to do the best you can the first time around. I am very glad that I waited as long as I did to start college because I don't think my younger self would have taken it seriously either.

I don't think there's anything wrong with taking some time between high school and college to go out into the world and discover the things it has to offer as well as to get to know yourself as an adult. People change so much once they get out into the real world and see how it is to be in charge of their own lives. I certainly didn't have a plan laid out for my life at eighteen and I believe that, had I tried to enter college straight from high school, I probably would have made stupid decisions or would now be locked into a career that I had no long-term love for. That's not to say that this applies to everyone though; if you are a young person right out of high school who is confident and ready to tackle a college education then I applaud you. I wish I had been of that mind-set back then but now that I am older I believe I have the drive and ambition required to excel in college. So, if you are unsure if going to college right out of high school is the right choice for you, take some time off and find out before you commit to a lifetime of debt and possibly regret.