This one needs a tiny bit of context, especially if you’re reading from outside the UK 👀
In the UK, college isn’t the same thing as what the US calls college (aka university).
Here, college is usually for 16–18 year olds, taken after secondary school. It’s where you either:
- study specific academic subjects (like A-levels or equivalent) to prepare for university, or
- learn vocational skills geared towards actual jobs — things like childcare, hairdressing, culinary, mechanics, and more.
So yes — I did go to college.
I studied childcare, and honestly? I loved it.
Being around babies, learning how children develop, and getting hands-on experience felt really natural to me. It was one of those times where I thought, “Yeah… this makes sense.”
But university?
That was a hard nope for me.
I knew pretty early on that I wasn’t built for uni life — endless essays, academic pressure, and formal writing just wasn’t my vibe. I absolutely hated writing essays (still do, unless I’m rambling on the blog 😌), and I could already tell I’d be miserable forcing myself through it.
So I stopped at college — and I’m genuinely okay with that decision.
Not everyone’s path includes university, and that doesn’t make it any less valid. Mine just took a more practical, real-life route… with fewer essays and a lot more sanity ✨
Your turn — did you go to college, university, both… or neither?
Come chat with me 💬
The Reading Nook 