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I read an article last week from Associated Press about the results of a recent survey on people’s perceptions about college.

The poll, conducted by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation, found that only 36 percent of adults have “a great deal” of confidence in higher education. That percentage is basically the same as it was last year, but it’s been declining in the last 10 years. The number was 57 percent back in 2015.

On the other side, 32 percent of respondents had little or no confidence in these educational institutions. That number includes all kinds of people, though Republicans seems to have lost faith much more than people with other political affiliations.

So why aren’t people as thrilled about higher education now? There were a variety of reasons given including the cost to attend college (which is a valid reason to be upset, I think) and “indoctrination and political bias” (to which I simply rolled my eyes. All colleges have a variety of people with a variety of political views, like any other place in the world. It’s not “bias” just because you disagree).

The article noted that these results were mainly for four-year universities. People tended to be more confident in two-year colleges. About 49 percent of the respondents said they have “quite a lot” of confidence in two-year programs.

I’m a bit baffled by the growing negative attitude towards college. Growing up, it felt like attending college was a foregone conclusion for most people. You save up for tuition, pick something to major in, then find a job after you receive your diploma.

But I also understand why things have started to shift. Going to a university is much more expensive now than ever before. A lot of people end up saddled with school debt they can’t easily repay. Even if you get scholarships, they rarely cover everything, and I remember FAFSA being a headache to apply for when I was in school. I can only imagine it’s even more complicated to navigate now. It’s hard for overwhelmed teenagers (with probably overwhelmed parents too) to figure out the best way to attend college for a price that won’t kneecap them in the future.

And then, even with a college degree, many people find it difficult to find a job after graduation these days. How many times have you seen a job listing for an “entry-level” position that required both a degree and several years of experience? Those were prevalent even when I graduated from college over a decade ago. How are you supposed to gain those years of experience for a job if no one is willing to hire you first?

So I can understand the frustration. I actually wish more politicians and educational leaders in charge would focus on finding viable solutions to those problems, and stop wasting time on trying to solve things that aren’t actually problems (like last year when every politician was scrambling to get rid of CRT in schools even though CRT wasn’t being taught in schools?? Stop chasing imaginary bogeymen please.)

Despite the lack of confidence some people seem to have in colleges these days, I still think they’re worth attending. And it doesn’t have to be a four-year school. Community colleges and technical training programs can be just as useful (and sometimes even more) to build up a person’s career for the future.

As for me, my experience attending college was great. I ended up going to a small university in a small city, which made the transition of leaving home an easier one to handle. Luckily, I had already decided on my major beforehand and had some credits transfer over thanks to some dual-enrollment classes in high school.

But other than the opportunity to learn, college was a great way to expand my experiences with the world. I got to meet people from all over the United States as well as some from other countries.

A study abroad trip during my sophomore year was my first experience in both leaving the country and flying in an airplane. (Sidenote: I do not recommend your first plane ride be a 14-hour flight! Go for something shorter first.)

There were so many clubs and activities on campus all the time for me to enjoy. During my first semester, I got to DJ at the university’s radio station (on Friday nights when no one was listening probably). I was a regular attendee of Baptist Student Union meetings, which included a nice dinner once a week provided by local churches. And every Friday, I gathered with my classmates to practice speaking Japanese. Those are some of the things I miss the most from college!

Another thing I miss: good, solid internet access. At the time I went off to college, we still had dial-up internet as the only option at my home. Having easy access to fast internet anywhere on campus (including my dorm room) made my schoolwork a lot easier to complete. (And perhaps I was not very into partying as a college student because I was busy finally getting to watch my favorite singers on YouTube and such.)

So, for me, college was a great time, not only for receiving an education to jumpstart my career but also to just experience so many new things. And even if I’d chosen to attend a local school instead, I still would have had an enriching experience.

So that’s why, despite its flaws, I think higher education is something worth doing. Other people may choose different paths – and that’s valid too – but we shouldn’t dismiss college as an option either.

We have some great local colleges here too, including Chowan University, Roanoke-Chowan Community College, and other community colleges that serve the outer parts of our four-county area.

Chowan is gearing up to revamp the way they provide education, to include more “life skills” along with what you learn from a textbook. RCCC continues to provide courses and programs to help people in a variety of ways. I’m confident they’ll continue to successfully educate students if they continue to get the support they need.

Holly Taylor is a Staff Writer for Roanoke-Chowan Publications. Contact her at holly.taylor@r-cnews.com or at 252-332-7206.