Travel for college
graphic by sam adkins
Many St. Joe teachers proudly hang their students’ pennants, displaying the various colleges their students attended. Looking around, you’ll find an assortment of schools close to St. Joseph—Grand Valley State University, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, Hope College, Lake Michigan College—the furthest of those is about 2.5 hours away. Many high schoolers no longer take advantage of the opportunity college can present: going somewhere new.
Leaving your hometown is harder said than done. It means not having your family close by, having to figure out commuting, and possibly being away from all your friends—not to mention the costs of out of state schools. However, it’s important to consider getting out and exploring the country; if there’s any time for this, it’s college.
College provides many means for growth. Getting away from family compels the student to become more self-sufficient, figuring out simplicities like making meals and doing laundry. This new independence fosters a proactive person. Schools that are close to home provide an easy way to be dependent: coming home when you’re sick and parents being able to bring you little things like toiletries or groceries.
Leaving one’s hometown for college also forces the student to be social with unfamiliar people. Joining clubs, participating in study groups, and interacting with those rooming close is important in the first years of college, but can be lost if the student is still close to the people who they grew up with. Having close access to old friends makes creating new ones difficult.
“You’re forced to get involved and get connected at your school. You probably are not rooming with someone you went to high school with so you’re instantly exposed to new friends,” Mrs. Amy Peterson, a guidance counselor at SJHS, said about going to an out-of-state school. “It’s a huge growth opportunity to be farther away from home.”
Outside one’s hometown, a student is exposed to different cultures and lifestyles that open up their mind to new ideas. New foods, leisure activities, and even climate are all things that can be experienced when considering schools out of state.
Not only is it beneficial for the student to leave, but with technology, it’s much easier to leave home now than it was 50 years ago. Social media allows students to stay in touch with friends and family, a concern for most people when they consider leaving home.
Aarushi Fernandez, 12, recognizes the benefits of leaving home for college.
“I want that sense of independence, and ability to do what I want, when I want, and how I want to,” she said. The majority of colleges Aarushi applied to are in cities. She knows the opportunities living away from St. Joe can provide.
“I want that sense of independence, and ability to do what I want, when I want, and how I want to.”
“Having the opportunity to get internships at companies while I’m in school, or have an increased ability to interact with workforce, and just in general, making my career start faster, is why I want to leave,” she said when discussing her plans for moving to a big city.
While there are many factors to deciding college, it doesn’t hurt to look into a future outside of St. Joe. There are many opportunities that enable students to leave their hometown for college, like scholarships and financial aid. It’s important to know you can broaden your horizons outside the small town of St. Joe.
cover photo by sky stockton