College is very important. This is something that has been ingrained throughout our entire lives — from parents stressing it every day, to taking multiple ACTs, to the expectation in society that college is the next step.

It makes sense. If you’re planning on pursuing a specific career field, college is the best way to gain the knowledge of that field and make a living from it.

According to “Dropping Out of College, and Paying the Price” by New York Times writer Eduardo Porter, “a typical graduate from a four-year college earns 84 percent more than a high school graduate. A graduate from a community college makes 16 percent more.”

During my first two years in college, both here at OCCC, I’ve noticed a lot of people don’t seem to realize how much of one’s future can hinge on this time period of our lives.

OCCC should be treated as a wonderful opportunity by students. It’s a great situation for any type of person that’s going to school.

So, why is it that so many students blow it off like it’s nothing? If you’re given the best possible situation to succeed, why do people try so hard to fail? A lot of the adults I know who dropped out of college now wish they had tried harder. They wish they had put in more effort while attending school.

Why do people have such a difficult time putting effort into a college degree?

From people who spend tens of thousands of dol-lars on their education to those who get a free ride via grants, scholarships or financial aid, so many don’t take it seriously. That’s such a waste.

The numbers of students not finishing school are staggering. According to the “Pathways to Prosperity” study done by Harvard, just 56 percent of college students will complete their four-year degrees in six years.

A common theme at universities occurs when students go to college because their parents want them to and then spend the whole time goofing off.

Yes, sometimes, it’s hard to get up at 6:30 a.m. and go to that 8 a.m. class. We’ve all been there. But, being in school is all about learning to cope with that.

You’re paying for these classes for a reason and if you’re just missing class after class, you’re just wasting your time and your money. If college isn’t for you, that’s fine. But, for people who don’t have any other option, it’s important to realize how vital college is.

Whether students are paying large amounts of money on a four-year university or they’re barely paying anything to take classes at OCCC, it’s important to realize that your future is in your own hands regardless of the situation you’re in. Students should really think about the choices that they are making now, and realize that they’re going to affect them for the rest of their lives.