I used to dread the inevitable question: “So, where are you going to college?”
When I decided to attend community college, I did so with a sense of shame. I was embarrassed to be labeled as “less than” by my peers. I felt discouraged by the stigma that dismissed community college as the inferior option. I was convinced that I was somehow falling short of societal expectations.
I worried that people would think that I didn’t care about my future — which could not be further from the truth. I care a lot about my education, and community college provided me with a supportive environment as someone who was undecided about her major.
Unlike larger universities, Manchester Community College has smaller class sizes, ranging from 20 to 30 students. MCC gave me an intimate learning experience and supported me in transferring to a four-year college.
Before enrolling at MCC, I dreamed of attending a big school in a fast-paced city. I felt that I would be limited if I wasn’t in a four-year college. But I eventually gained appreciation for the flexibility that community college gave me.
I was able to choose a schedule that was the best fit for me and to take time to discover what I truly wanted for myself. I explored my interests by taking a variety of courses such as television production, sociology and business.
Community college is a cheaper way to explore higher education before going to a four-year program. According to a 2023 BestColleges survey, students voted affordability as their No. 1 deciding factor when choosing their college.
Many students who attend a four-year university carry the burden of high tuition fees. The College Board says that community colleges charge, on average, one-third of the in-state tuition fees of four-year public universities. According to The National Center for Education Statistics, “Students who attended at least some community college paid $9,770 in non-tuition expenses per year. In comparison, students who didn’t attend any community college paid $13,810 per year.”
Connecticut is among the 30 states that offer free community college tuition programs for qualifying students. Biden’s 2024 budget proposal also incorporates a plan for two years of tuition-free community college, to be financed through a federal-state partnership.
When we fail to invest in community colleges and portray them as inferior, we deprive students of exploring their options. I believe that creating mentorship programs and providing career guidance can help destigmatize the harmful stereotypes that undermine the significance of community college.
Community college is not a symbol of failure, but rather a beacon of opportunity. It provided me with all the resources I needed to preserve and grow as a student.
So, to anyone who has ever considered attending community college, I say this: Embrace the journey. Don’t let anyone convince you that your education is not valuable. Sometimes, the greatest opportunities are found in the most unexpected places. In the end, it’s not where you start that matters, but the direction you’re headed in.
Adrianna Brahm of Glastonbury is graduating from Central Connecticut State University this spring with a Bachelor of Science in Strategic Communication.