I Dropped Out of College
I've dropped out of college not once, not thrice, but twice. I was called a fool for my decision, and am still pestered by well-meaning relatives. What made dropping out seem especially stoopid is the fact that I didn't have to pay a dime for my education. My parents are missionaries. A church was paying all of my tuition, and room and board fees. However, they would only pay if I attended a Christian school. More specifically, a school blessed by the Assemblies of God.
So after high school I had no idea what to do with myself. I wanted to stay in Colombia, marry my boyfriend (mostly so I could become a Colombian citizen and not have to move to the Midwest,) and work in a grocery store or something while he played music. My parents kind of had me convinced that COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT you'll be homeless and miserable if you don't have an education! I moved to the United States and went to school for one semester. It was awful. I wasn't living at home anymore, but there were so many rules at that place, I might as well have been. 10pm curfew, every night. We weren't allowed to even ENTER a bar. Dress codes, mandatory chapel services three times a week. And every professor, no matter WHAT subject they were teaching, felt it necessary to quote scripture during every class. Bullllll **** I was out of there. I moved to another state and got my first real job. That wasn't fun at all. I thought "THEY WERE RIGHT if you don't go to college you'll have to work **** jobs for the rest of your life just to make ends barely meet!"
I returned to the same college, tail between my legs and ears drooping with shame. The school hadn't changed at all. I spent a year there. During that time I met some wonderful people who helped me be more confident about my ideas. In high school I always thought school was ridiculous. More than that, it was harmful, yet another method of control. I wanted to free my mind, not submit it to more pointless forms. I left school proudly, willing to put up with nagging and with people thinking I'm stupid for not having formal education. I have a bit more say over what goes into my brain now, and I'm happy. I can learn anything I want to, on my own. I don't need someone to tell me how to learn.
So after high school I had no idea what to do with myself. I wanted to stay in Colombia, marry my boyfriend (mostly so I could become a Colombian citizen and not have to move to the Midwest,) and work in a grocery store or something while he played music. My parents kind of had me convinced that COLLEGE IS IMPORTANT you'll be homeless and miserable if you don't have an education! I moved to the United States and went to school for one semester. It was awful. I wasn't living at home anymore, but there were so many rules at that place, I might as well have been. 10pm curfew, every night. We weren't allowed to even ENTER a bar. Dress codes, mandatory chapel services three times a week. And every professor, no matter WHAT subject they were teaching, felt it necessary to quote sc
I returned to the same college, tail between my legs and ears drooping with shame. The school hadn't changed at all. I spent a year there. During that time I met some wonderful people who helped me be more confident about my ideas. In high school I always thought school was ridiculous. More than that, it was harmful, yet another method of control. I wanted to free my mind, not submit it to more pointless forms. I left school proudly, willing to put up with nagging and with people thinking I'm stupid for not having formal education. I have a bit more say over what goes into my brain now, and I'm happy. I can learn anything I want to, on my own. I don't need someone to tell me how to learn.
By:
trashbag
Age:
22-25
,
Female
