09 Apr I Chose Community College, and I Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way

(Los Medanos College via Bay City News)

Commentary, Gabbie Munoz

Picking the college you want to attend is a big decision many students have to make while still in high school. Whether it’s weighing costs, leaving family, or where you’ll get the best degree, there is a lot to consider at a young age.

This always scared me in high school, and while it wasn’t the main reason I chose community college, the looming fear of making the wrong choice helped shape my decision to go to Los Medanos College. But I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience and the choice I made to attend a community college before transferring.

No, the main reason I wanted to attend a community college was because, like most students, I had to consider the costs. It’s not a surprise to anyone that college is costly and sends young adults into debt for decades.

However, with the California College Promise Program, I’ve been able to get through my first two years of community college at nearly no cost and have been able to save up money for when I transfer to a university. It’s made my life easier and lifted a weight off my shoulders as now I don’t have to worry about being in four years of debt.

While avoiding the debt, I’ve also gained valuable knowledge and skills for my degree, and I am extremely grateful to have that experience.

Joining the campus newspaper at LMC and studying journalism have taught me many lessons and given me many experiences that I’ll be using for the rest of my career.

Being able to work with such a committed and like-minded group of people has helped me truly know what I want to do with my life — which I feel is something a lot of students struggle with when going to a four-year college immediately.

Community college allows you to find exactly what you want to do and explore different options if what you originally chose wasn’t right for you.

Luckily, I love what I do, and since I’ve joined the LMC student paper, I’ve only grown to love it more. Without this experience, I don’t think I would have fallen in love with journalism in the way that I did. I once hated working on a team and feared being in charge, but now I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Being at LMC opened my eyes to so many possibilities and opportunities and so much creativity that I would have never experienced without it.

Community college has truly given me a taste of college life but was a less scary and overwhelming experience than giving thousands of dollars to a school and degree I had to pick at 18 years old.

It has shaped me into a more mature, educated and driven person as I explore what I love without fear.

I am extremely grateful for the experience I’ve gotten from choosing to go to a community college, and I couldn’t have asked for a better way to start my college career. I have had some of the best memories, met close friends, and had opportunities I don’t think I could have had anywhere else.