Free Tuition, Still Drowning

They said community college would be free. Like that was supposed to fix everything. But nobody tells you how heavy it feels to walk into class knowing your parents are still working double shifts, or that you’re supposed to be grateful for every hand-me-down textbook. I thought not having to pay tuition would mean I could finally breathe. But all it did was raise the bar. Now there’s no excuse for not making it. Every quiz, every group project, every time I had to choose work over sleep—it all felt like proof that I was still behind. I got the opportunity, but the pressure didn’t go away. It just changed shape. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever stop feeling like I owe someone for every step I take. #CollegeReality #FirstGenFeels #AcademicPressure #Education