Community College Graduation

As a lot of you know, I went straight from high school to Southwestern Community College. In the beginning, I wasn't thrilled about the idea of community college- there's still a HUGE stigma surrounding not going to a 4 year university. Community college, trade school, and no school are essentially frowned upon in mainstream media and society. After the first semester, I quickly learned that going to community college was the best decision that I could've made for myself.

There are lots of pros of attending a JC that you can look up on Google. But the following are my personal beliefs for why attending community is way better than going straight into a 4 year. ​

1. You save a TON of money! Most people who attend JC also qualify for the BOG Waiver. Because of the BOG, I didn't need to come out of pocket for tuition or class registration. You're basically only paying for your books/ class materials, and school parking... and even parking rates are discounted!
2. Taking GE classes forces you to find what you like. I went in thinking that I wanted to be a business or psychology major, but taking those classes, I learned that I didn't enjoy those topics as much as I thought I would. It was through GE classes (and not having to choose a major right away) that led me to find my love for anthropology and sociology.
3. Staff members are far more understanding and present. At universities, most of your professors don't have the time to be attentive or personally help you. Community college professors on the other hand only want to see you succeed. In my experience, they've all been extremely caring and take the time to help you if your willing to ask for it.
4. This one is for my P.I's and other family oriented people- you have the ability to stay close to home. Although you might want to move away eventually, attending JC allows you to stay close to home while you and your family get used to the idea of moving away or not having as much time to spend together due to the college load. You still have a lot of homework, but you're within enough proximity that if your family needs you or you need them, it's not hard to see each other. 

Like I said, there are way more pros than what's listed above, but these are the ones I found most important and that have made me so successful. Southwestern has provided me with a stable foundation and over the summer, I graduated with a Double Associates in Anthropology and Sociology with Honors. 

It's been one hell of a journey but it's all been worth it. I'm happy to announce that I will be attending San Diego State University in the fall to earn my double Bachelors. 

I can't wait to bring you all along with me on this new chapter of my life. 

Sincerely, 
​Alana