Cost of Being a Student

Let me start with this: I’ve been a Mt. Hood Community College student for what feels like forever – but in a good, character-building kind of way. I technically started in high school through dual enrollment, so I’ve been juggling college classes since I was a teenager.

Now, I’m about to graduate and transfer to Portland State University. It’s exciting, exhausting, and honestly, very emotional.

They say an associate degree takes two years. That sounds nice in theory. Maybe if you take 15 credits every single term, have zero life distractions, and manage to pass everything with no mental breakdowns, then sure. But, for most of us, it takes longer.

For me, it’s taken three years, and I’m proud of that. Dual enrollment helped save time, so in a way, I’ve even skipped some years. But the journey still felt long and hard. Even when you’re ahead, which should feel comforting, the stress of being a student and dealing with life makes it hard to appreciate your little accomplishments and goals.

Being a student is both a blessing and a curse. You grow, you learn, and you become stronger. But it also drains you, challenges your mental health, and makes you question your worth sometimes. And now that I’m looking back, sharing my story, I can finally say I’ve lived through what it really costs to be a student – not just financially, but emotionally and mentally, too.

I started college while I was still in high school. Some people may think that’s impressive, but it wasn’t easy. In fact, starting that young might have added to the stress. I remember one moment clearly: I was just 16, sitting in an MHCC office asking for help, trying to make a plan to improve. A high school adviser working there looked at me and said, “Why are you stressing so much? You’re just 16. You don’t have to do the whole college thing.” I know she probably meant to comfort me, but those words crushed me. I was coming for support, and instead I felt shut down. I left feeling like maybe my effort didn’t matter.

And I’m sure I’m not the only student who’s had a moment like that. When life outside school is hard already and you finally build up the courage to ask for help, but the words you hear make you feel worse, not better, that’s a pain not everyone talks about. That’s the part of college people don’t usually see.

There were times I felt completely drowned and couldn’t even bring myself to open my laptop. But I kept going. I kept standing. Not because I had everything figured out, but because deep down, I knew I had to try. I’ve worked multiple jobs, dealt with a loud household full of younger nieces and nephews, and faced my own mental health struggles.

When I was just attending high school, I thought being in college would be fun, cool, and a little bit easier. But it was the opposite. It’s deadlines, late nights, trying to study while stressed, and keeping your grades up when life outside school is falling apart. Sometimes it feels like people expect you to have it all figured out just because you’re in college, like you’re supposed to be wise and mature already. The truth is, a lot of the time, you’re figuring it out as you go. And that’s okay.

Reading other students’ stories helped me along the way. That’s why I’m sharing mine now. Maybe you’re reading this and thinking, “Wow, I’m not alone.” And you’re not. I want you to know that, yes, going through college takes sacrifice. It’s more than just tuition! It’s time, energy, relationships, sleep, and sometimes your peace of mind you’re burning through. But your story matters too, and someone else might need to hear it one day.

Something else I wish I knew earlier is that MHCC has real counselors! Not just academic advisers. These counselors can help you manage your mental health, stress, and even help guide you to the right resources. I interviewed one of them for the school newspaper. I didn’t get to use their services back then, because by the time I found out they existed, I had already gotten used to figuring things out alone.

Art by Leo Decklar

But I’m saying it here again: Please use the resources available here. If you’re still in high school doing dual enrollment and feeling lost like I once did, just know that you can meet with a college adviser, and not just your high school adviser. If one adviser doesn’t help, don’t give up. Try a different one. Keep asking until someone truly listens.

Also, go to tutoring. There’s The AVID center at the MHCC Library that can help you with your schedule and teach you how to take better notes. There’s a writing center to help with your essays. There’s even a math and science center that can walk you through your homework. All of this is available in the Library. And if your home is loud like mine, go there. There’s a quiet study area in the back that helps you focus and breathe.

These words aren’t here to lecture you. I’m just sharing what I wish I had heard much earlier. These are things that could have saved me stress, confusion, and maybe even a few tears.

Being a student is hard. But it’s also powerful. And you never know, your story might be the one someone else needs to hear.