College offers four years of receiving an education that many are not privileged to get, forming relationships that could last a lifetime, figuring out what role you should play in the world and what kind of identity you want to form for yourself.

Senior year of high school people begin to push students to work for a higher education.

Coaches train you to be recruited. Teachers prepare you for the last series of tests in order to boost your grade point average and test scores in order to make applications more competitive.

Parents promote their alma maters and plan college road trips while older siblings lend insight with their stories and experiences.

It all comes down to the simple fact that the necessity to go to college or university is pushed from many directions and for various reasons.

However, there is a multitude of other factors that play into the college experience that can  easily be overlooked or not taken in with importance.

For some, finances play a huge factor in the ability to attend school.

One must pay for applications and then pay for four years at an institution. Some students simply do not test well, and in turn, cannot compete for scholarships.

Others come from families that will work hard to pay off loans and make the college dream come true, but barely make it.

Aside from finances, it may be hard to think about putting dreams on hold to spend four more years in school.

Some become discouraged if they cannot learn on the same level as others and may take longer getting to the same end goal.

Whatever the reason is, the basis is still the same: there are many outside factors that come into play for motivation whether or not to attend and stay at an institution.

I am not saying that these are reasons people should stay away from college; I am one who encourages anyone and everyone to further their education and have an amazing experience through those four years.

Attending college is an opportunity people should feel privileged to take part in but several outside forces are often overlooked.

For a lot of students, it will take a lot of perseverance to make it through school with these stresses and financial burdens, especially if they came in unaware. These factors may make or break an experience at college.

Williamson is a sophomore majoring in journalism and mass communications. Comments can be sent to hwilliamson15@ my.whitworth.edu.