Back To... Community College!

    I go to a community college. This is my third semester doing online/hybrid classes. I'm going for my Associate's degree in Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation. Hopefully, I gain enough confidence to be a counselor or case manager one day. However, I'm still in school, and haven't even reached any field placement courses yet, so I still have some ways to go.

    Community college is honestly perfect for me. Before this, I attended a University (major undecided) for one singular semester. This was in 2020 and I was depressed, going through a death in my family, and decided to drop out once December came around. I did, however, pass all of my classes. I wanted to prove to myself that I dropped out, not because I couldn't succeed, but because I chose to. Nothing more, nothing less. And I did, I accomplished all A's and B's during my time there. Four years later, a coworker of mine told me that our state is making college free for people who are eligible. I thought to myself, "Why not try going back for something I have an actual interest in?" So, I went onto the local community college's website and looked at what they had to offer, and I saw it stand out to me as clear as day: Drug & Alcohol Rehabilitation, two year program, Associate's degree. That is when I knew, I was going to get that degree. 

    So far, it's been a wonderful experience. I chose this field because, back in 2020, the death in my family was caused by a drug overdose. I always wished I knew more about it. I wished that I had helped them more. I wished that I had known the signs beforehand. I blamed myself a lot for what happened, as I had just talked to them over the phone a day or two before the incident. Ever since that day, I carried guilt and grief around with me wherever I went. Going to school again to learn more about recovery and harm reduction and counseling has been so rewarding. I am so glad I chose to go back to school. 

    For anyone else who is in community college, who has dropped out, or who is attending a University, please have a great Spring!!!