Education logo

Why I Didn’t Go to College

My Fall from Grace

By Bass Man EddiePublished 5 years ago 4 min read
Like
This is Kanye West in his album 'The College Dropout' (2004) 

From the beginning of everyone's life, adults ranging from parents to teachers have told kids of any generation that college is where they must go to have success in life and in their future. Every kid doesn't really think about college until they go to high school where they realize they have to do something before they graduate. They have many options to choose, yet the one option they always have been told was to go to college.

College, for the most part, isn't terrible. In fact, it's a good way to not only further people's education but also help them gain the knowledge and experience to pursue a certain career someone wanted to follow with passion. It can be for anything from being a doctor or lawyer, to being an actor or enterprises. With higher education, there's a higher chance to be certain in a large career job position to benefit you financially and personally.

I was a high school student who believed that college was the only thing I have to go to continue my life to get the bright future I have always dreamed of since I was a young kid. I have to work extremely hard in school assignments and projects, extracurricular activities like join a club and other school groups, and doing community service to help my community. I was a straight A student who was ready to go to college and live in the dorms. After I graduated on June 6, 2018, I was now getting college materials needed, getting clothes and personal items to take with me, and I was telling everyone I knew and loved that I was going to UC Santa Barbara for the fall term On September 27, 2018.

Starting to prepare my college life, I went to their orientation on July 9, which I had to wake up at four in the morning to drive from my hometown Huntington Park to Santa Barbara, and they explain how college life was going to be, the programs they have to help students with their health and behavior, and explain how to register for classes and what type I have to choose. They finish the orientation on July 10, and tiring to say the least, but I thought to myself it was worth it to begin my college life. Furthermore, my family was very happy to see me going to college as a first generation. As I gather the materials I need for my classes and gather all my clothes and personal stuff to go move into the dorm, something terrible happened.

On July 18, I heard that my father got deported. He didn't live with my family, but when he got deported my family struggle with money. I had financial aid to help me with college, but I find out that the tuition and housing cost more than I thought. The price surpasses the amount given from my financial aid and grant combines. It was a chain of events where everything just went downhill from there. it got so horrible financially that I had to use the money I save from the scholarships I earned in high school just to pay the rent of the apartment we were living in.

So around August 2018, I went to my high school where I told the issue with my former counselor. She told me that I should get loans and then see what else we can do. Since UC Santa Barbara was starting the fall term on late September, I thought it would be a good idea. When I checked how much I was getting from the loans given to me from the award letter Santa Barbara, it still wasn't enough to pay the fees. I called the housing office to see if I could move into a cheaper dorm, but they told me I wasn't able to do so.

On September 12, 2018, I called the admission office to take me off enrollment. I felt a knife stabbed through my heart since it was my dream to go to college and earn a Bachelor degree in film and media. I decided that I was going to look for other schools to see if there was still a chance to at least go to a school teaching film and media. As of now, there are no schools that are open for new students.

In the current date of March 2019, I'm trying to look for a job in the meantime and earn some money to help my family with bills and to have some money for myself. I initial plan is to wait until the fall of 2019 to go back to college, yet there are new opportunities I could go for.

college
Like

About the Creator

Bass Man Eddie

This is Bass Man Eddie here. This is where you read interesting stories and articles from me. These ranges from life lessons to importance of a certain film. I’m very talkative and I would like to talk about many interesting things to you.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.