Alexa Palermo 
Alexa PalermoFeb 22, 2016
 At University of Southern California
Nothing in life is ever easy. Trust me when I tell you that. You probably know this after going through half of senior year and attempting to pick the right pace to spend the next four years of your life.
There are so many things out in the world that tell you what you should do when it comes to this decision. People say that you should choose the college with the best name. Strive to go where you are happy. People say that you should take a year at home if you’re not ready to go off to college. Go anyway.
Here is why.
There are many colleges that have great names, but that doesn’t mean that they will be a good fit for you. The reputation of a college says a lot about the people that run it and, more importantly, the people that attend it. If you chose a college based on the name of it as opposed to its core values, people, and opportunities, you will inevitably be unhappy.
College is where you will spend the next four years and will learn so much more about yourself and what you want than ever before. Attend a college that makes you happy. Attend a college that you love so much that you want to make it better. That will make you better.
Going to college is inevitably going to be scary. It is a huge change that you need to take on whether you feel that you are prepared or not. Take a chance even though you are scared, and go. Don’t stay home because you are comfortable there. Nothing good ever comes in your comfort zone.
Generally, this choice is an extremely difficult one if you haven’t done your research. You need to know what you want in a school because if you know you want a football team and attend a school without one, then you will be disappointed.
Look into the programs, extracirculars, and lifestyle of each school. College is so much more than just class, so you need to enjoy the extracurricular opportunities, lifestyle, and people that you surround yourself with to be happy.
Find a place that has absolutely everything you want because, trust me, it's out there and everyone deserves to be happy.
Let me tell you a short story. When I was looking to attend college I toured many different schools in warm weather because I needed to get out of the cold New York winters. They were interesting. They were fun and they had what I wanted when I was younger: warm weather. I didn’t know what I should be looking for until I stepped on the campus of the school I now attend. There was something completely different about being here: I just loved it. I loved the atmosphere, the sunshine, the people, the buildings, the spirit. I loved absolutely everything, and I knew in that moment that I needed to attend school here.


Publisher Note:

I wanted to post the above article with myself deciding to return back to college. It is a long time personal goal that I wanted to achieve. That cap and gown really bring tears to my eyes each time I attend someone elses graduation.  I am now attending college and praying with all my heart to graduate with my degree. I have attended college in the pass but personal issues seem to arise and had to discontinue my education. 
I love meeting new people and learning all I can in what is happening in the world today. Our technology has advance with creating a fast pace world. Books are becoming obsolete in the classrooms and all students is working form chrome books or other type of tablets and laptops.  It is amazing our children will not be using writing skills to sign their names. Everything will become E-sign and you are done. I am paranoid about the E-sign because it is a way to forge who you are. On the positive side, I like how quickly admission can process you into college. 
 I want to keep abreast with all the technology and how it works in our world today. I do have grandchildren and I want to be able to help them upon them entering college. But of course their computer skills is advance already and I had to learn what they are doing in schools today. Soon, with technology advancing at the speed of flight, being on campus in front of a Professor will become obsolete.  It will be online teaching with using online videos. 
To all the students I have met thank you for helping this old timer who still like turning pages from the book. I love attending Florida Technical College.