It’s hard for me to answer the question, “What year are you?” I’ve only been out of high school for a year and a half, which should mean I’m a college sophomore; however, I took so many dual-enrollment and advanced placement classes during high school, academically, I’m a college junior and can graduate in May 2027. I can graduate from Hofstra University after just three years.
My aunt graduated from the University of Connecticut in three years. I remember growing up and thinking she was crazy because she didn’t want to have the whole college experience. Especially when I reached high school, I realized I love to learn and enjoy being in a school environment. I understood that with all of the college level courses I was taking, I was clearing many of future general education classes from my schedule, but I didn’t understand how far ahead it would push me.
Moving to college is a real culture shock after high school; what frightened me was how much college sets a student up for a career. During my freshman year, I realized that college really is the final step. Networking and building connections reminded me that this is it, no fooling around anymore.
The idea of graduating early sat with me for a while. I would save money. I can get a jumpstart on my career. I enter the real world. After my first semester, I talked to university advisors and I was shocked when a few told me not to graduate early. I was told something along the lines of, “knowledge is power.” I was deterred from my objectives. I love learning, maybe I just stay the extra year and build my expertise.
Looking back at myself exactly one year ago, I want to scream in my face. Yes, by graduating early I am losing the opportunity to gain more expertise and I’m losing time to be reckless college student, but I also open the doors to so many opportunities by giving myself an extra year.
Not only is there the option to start working earlier and taking internships to build my knowledge in the field instead of a classroom, but I can also decide to pursue higher education with less student loans under my belt.
I battle daily with the decision to graduate early, but watching how college is such a powerful transition into the rest of the world, makes me excited to be with the rest of the world.
In my twenties, I want to travel, make mistakes, live. If I have the opportunity to graduate early, I’m taking it despite the possible consequences.