Three years ago, I was sitting at my kitchen table Googling colleges and universities I wanted to apply to. Being from a small town, I knew that moving to the city was the best choice for me. I knew that not only would it be more exciting, but it would provide me with more opportunities. Here are the reasons as to why I decided to go to a college near the city.
In order to graduate from high school, I was required to complete an 80-hour internship. Although it took me until junior year to figure out what I wanted to study in college, I finally decided to pursue film production. Being from a small town, it was incredibly hard to find a production internship within the area. Due to this, my teacher suggested that I complete an internship at a local radio station. Within a week, I was able to find an internship that worked with my schedule and would help me gain experience. Although I didn’t initially intend to pursue a radio internship, it ended up being one of the best decisions I made throughout my high school career. I knew that in order to graduate from college, I would have to complete at least one internship. Because I had such a hard time securing an internship related to my major, I knew I would have to go to college in an area that would provide me with those opportunities. I didn’t want to pursue a degree that I couldn’t apply those skills to beyond a college classroom. By moving to the city, I have already found numerous internships that could result in future careers.
It’s no secret, that college isn’t cheap. In my opinion, if you’re going to spend thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of dollars to go to college, you minus well choose an area with future job opportunities. While there are multiple branches of the film industry, I knew I wanted to specifically focus on cinematography and directing. Throughout my college search, I found tons of schools that offered production majors, but were located in areas where there weren’t as many film opportunities. I knew that in order to have a future in film, I would have to go to the city.
Networking is one of the most important skills that any college student should have, especially in regard to your future career. By attending college near the city, I have already been able to establish relationships with professionals. I have built relationships with professors who have experience within my field as well as their connections. I have worked with people who have similar interests and passions as myself. By building these relationships, I have been offered handfuls of opportunities to do what I love. If I hadn’t decided to go to college near the city, I’m not sure I would’ve been able to build the same relationships I have.
When I think of the city, I picture a community of people from multiple different backgrounds. Unfortunately, the town I grew up in was predominately white and didn’t have a mixture of cultures. I knew I wanted to find a college that was located in an area full of diversity. I wanted to be able to sit on a park bench and watch as people from different cultures, races, and backgrounds took the world by storm. I wanted to meet people from all different walks of life that would change my perspective on the world. Since going to college near the city, I have been able to build relationships with people who have the same views as myself or completely oppose them, who have introduced me to their cultures, and who have shared stories about their backgrounds. Because of this, I feel as if it’s made me a better person.
Where I’m from, there are very limited options of what to do in your free time. Every store or restaurant closes at 8pm and besides hiking, there really is no other form of entertainment. I wanted to go to college near the city because I wanted to gain new experiences and memories. I wanted to have infinite choices of what to eat, places to go, and activities to take part in. Since moving to a college near the city, I have experienced more than I have in the first 18 years of my life. I’ve taken chances that I never thought I would and gained memories that I’ll never forget.
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