Throughout my high school career, I never considered how much work I would have to put in in order to be successful by the world’s definition. Here I am, senior year, with a 3.3 GPA, barely holding on, and terrified of what could happen in the next twelve years of my life. I’ve been on various college campus visits, places like Virginia State University, James Madison University, and the University of Virginia, all of which I couldn’t get excited about.

Meanwhile, people around me seem thrilled to move on to their next chapter, sharing dorms with new people, maybe moving away from family, and being able to start working for what they want out of life. For them, it all starts with a university.

But I can’t fathom the idea of not being home, using communal bathrooms, not being able to drive on campus my freshman year (which is a policy for many universities), eating food my taste buds can’t get along with, sharing a room with a stranger, and possibly graduating college in serious debt. My grade point average gives me no leverage, as it isn’t nearly high enough to get me into what some colleges call the “honors dormitories,” where students with an exceptional GPA get everything in better condition with better amenities. All this makes me feel like college has a huge hierarchy.

So I took all of my questions and concerns to FCHS counselor Christopher Roberson, and I was relieved when I discovered community colleges could also get the job done, even if it isn’t the “traditional” way.

Roberson explained that community college and traditional college experiences are absolutely going to differ. “Traditional universities have more culture: things like Greek Life and clubs. However, in traditional colleges, especially large ones, it may be harder to build strong relationships with teachers,” he said.

What could I do if I wasn’t interested in living in dorms with strangers, not being able to use an air fryer, not eating home cooked meals, potentially not being able to drive my car on campus, and most importantly, having to pay thousands of dollars for a diploma that doesn’t guarantee any job once I graduate?

I was relieved to hear about a local community college, Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC), where I could be conditioned to enter the workforce without spending thousands of dollars and being comfortable in my own space. I wouldn’t waste months working towards a diploma that doesn’t get me the job I genuinely want.

“Getting the degree doesn’t guarantee the job. Internships and connections are key to making your career work,” said Roberson. He let me know that PVCC is more likely to directly prepare a student for the workforce while also providing longevity, as PVCC is completely involved in the community around them. For example, if I went to PVCC and trained as a sterile processing technician, PVCC could work with the nearest hospital to get me an opportunity to work hands-on, which I feel is right to the point and gets me on the path I need to be on more quickly.

PVCC also offers programs where they pay tuition for you, especially if a job is in high demand. Getting my tuition paid for me, and eventually getting certified as a sterile processing technician, could open doors to jobs at multiple hospitals, where I could earn up to $100,000 per year.

To me, traditional universities feel like a waste of time, especially in this economy. I feel it’s important to stay focused and do what I can, while I can. Community college makes it worthwhile without having to go through the long and drawn-out years of unnecessary schooling.

So, which is better? If you live for new experiences, college traditions, parties, being away from home, and wanting to take the scenic route on the way to your career, a traditional four-year university is best. However, if you are like me, and you want to do only what matters on the way to your career, community college is best–and it’s nothing to be ashamed of.