"After graduating from high school in 2010, I enrolled at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. I grew up in an environment where I was told that college was the only path to success, so I didn't even consider taking a different route. I quickly realized, though, that college was not the right fit for me: I struggled to balance school and my social life while working part-time jobs, and it was weighing on my mental health."
"I felt like a total failure leaving school at 20 years old. I was working just to pay the bills - I held two jobs as a restaurant server and in retail, and in the back of my mind, I always had motivation to push myself to find a more stable career. I just didn't know how. Many companies rejected me right off the bat because I didn't have a college degree, which wasn't a good feeling."
Audrey Serna left college after two semesters because college was not the right fit; she struggled to balance classes, social life, and part-time work, which harmed her mental health. She withdrew at age 20 and held jobs in restaurants and retail to pay bills while seeking more stable career opportunities. Many employers rejected her for not having a degree, and job searches while pregnant often ended when hiring managers noticed her pregnancy. Having a child became a strong motivator to pursue salaried work. Persistence and meeting one person willing to take a chance enabled career advancement. Serna now earns six figures and does not regret forgoing college.
Read at Business Insider
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