While college seems to be the best time in one's life for some, it seems to be more of a great struggle for others.
It is safe to say that the majority of college students are sent to college on their parents money. There parents give them the money for housing, food, leisure, just about anything they need. While the student is living the life of a typical college student, a party life. They have no times of worries, in a time they are suppose to becoming independent and develop an idea for their career, they are more reliable on their parents now than ever before.
Now consider a student who attend college on their own terms, in the sense that they accept a student loan or a grant, etc. to pay for their education, and in that sense receive no financial compensation from their parents. While a student loan or grant could easily pay for an individuals housing and tuition, what about other necessities. For example imagine a student whose parents simply cannot afford to put them through college in any sense of the word. Yet the young man or woman wants desperately to attend college, they are on their own. This student then accepts a student loan and gets a grant for their financial depreciation, they then are accepted to the school and begin looking for housing to attend college. Well wait just a minute, most housing opportunities for a student are held in local apartment complexes, which require a deposit to live their, and in the mean time the have no income because they are becoming a full-time student, therefore they are waiting for the school to compensate whatever financial needs they were approved of, which usually isn't distributed until a few weeks in attendance of the school. Which inevitable causes the student not to be able to sign a lease to apartment, now they have no where to live. However lets pretend they were able to sign a lease and did not have to pay a deposit, they are able to have housing while attending school. Now they have the issue of not only moving in, but paying for food.
Now the search for a job begins, which in this economy is near impossible. You have to consider the fact that this student is only available to work part time, since they are a full time student. More than likely the live in a college town, where 90 percent of all the other students are also looking for part-time jobs. Where is the chance that they will get one.
And the struggle begins. Consider this student extremely hard working and a straight A student. They are working hard everyday and getting no where. They are still broke, which leads them to stress and a lack of social experiences because they simply don't have any money.
Since when should college be a struggle, not an opportunity of a life time to shape your ideas and preferences that will determine the rest of your life.
Years ago students attended college just for a since of placement and meaning, and could have a much better experience than any student in todays time. Today a student goes to school for one reason only, to make more money, which still is not a guarantee these days.
So while college may seem like the ultimate opportunity for a young man or woman looking to begin their life and break towards a more proficient and contributing life, take in consideration it could easily become a mistake, and a hard struggle that is not guaranteed to pay off in the long run.
