Hi Crystal!
First take a deeeeep breath… You have plenty of time to figure this out (college will always be there when you’re ready!) The best question to ask yourself, is what you really want to do with your life. If a college degree is necessary for you to achieve your dream then go for it! It’s completely normal to not know what you want to do, but college is expensive and it’s important to invest your energy into something that’s in line with what YOU want.
I decided to take a couple years off after graduating high school. I worked as a nanny, saved money and traveled the world. This was a better education than any I’ve ever earned in a class room. Once I got to college, I had direction and knew exactly why I was there. I did graduate a couple years later than my peers (23 vs 21) but because of my experiences abroad, I appreciated my eduction and was much more competitive to the grad schools and jobs I applied to.
Now for finances: I too have gone through a similar situation with college. I was raised by a single father who had an income that was too high for grants yet too low to really pay for my tuition. He did the best he could by helping me pay for my cost of living, however tuition was up to me. It wasn’t ideal and I had to take out loans, but I went to a state school that wasn’t too pricey, got merit based scholarships for good grades and worked part time at a hospital for extra money. It wasn’t always easy, but I think it was worth it!
It’s easy to resent your parents for not planning ahead, but just try to understand that they care for you and want the best for you. They probably made many mistakes in their lives and might be afraid that you will go through the same difficulties as they did. They are truly just doing the best they can with what they have right now…
You will be SO much stronger because of this…“One of the Secrets in Life is to Make Stepping Stones out of Stumbling Blocks.” -Jack Penn
Wishing you the best on your journey!
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