[rodes123]

I'm getting ready to start college in the fall, but I'm unable to get excited about it because I feel don't deserve the amazing opportunity I have been given and though my parents are fine with paying full tuition for college, that I don't deserve that kind of gift or expression of love? I want to enjoy this experience, but I don't feel like I deserve to have it.

[gma45]

Hi rodes123, Why wouldn't you deserve it? Your parents think you do, so you can honor them and do the best you can do. Make them proud! It is something that some don't get to enjoy so be grateful. Enjoy!

[Little Lulu]

Maybe there is some fear of starting college this fall that is driving these thoughts? Fear of failure, a new chapter in life, new friends, living up to parental expectations, etc.

[Perna]

Opportunities are not "deserved" they happen to everyone in their lives every day. Waking up in the morning is an opportunity to try again, to become a better person, to learn and grow? You happen to have been born into a family with parents who can afford to send you to college. You get this opportunity but maybe you always dreamed of something else but did not get the opportunity for that? I love Judy Collins' song, "My Father" and the story it tells:

My Father

What we "get" is what shows up in our life and we do what we can with it or we are not interested (and, say, drop out to work or pursue some other opportunity that interest you more). Yes we can get good grades in high school so we get accepted to college, that is working toward a college opportunity and sounds like what you have done. Congratulations!

I have found that I am often like water, following the path of least resistance to get down to the sea I graduated from high school and went to college because that was what was in front of me, what I was expected to do. To a certain extent, I realize that that is also what my parents did -- they were expected to get married, have children, raise them well/send them to college. . . The "seriousness" quotient you are giving the love of your parents by providing this opportunity to you may not be all that serious to them. Yes, they love you but they are also partially on auto-pilot, doing the next step in raising you. My stepmother got up each morning and made my brothers and myself a hot breakfast before school -- yes, that showed her love but she felt it was her job/duty too, what was expected of her as a "good" mother, and that was her goal, not mine. You did not ask your parents to provide this experience? They decided to provide it without checking with you to see what you might want/not want, what might be the best next step for you as an individual. They have a picture of you as their daughter that they are partly going by, not you as an individual in her own right. Temper your feelings of unworthiness and their sacrifice with a little self-interest on both sides.

[alicetailor]

Your college life will be great and do not squander away the opportunity thinking you don't deserve it...they are your parents...whom else are they going to educate? Study hard, become something and make them proud...

[Sometimes psychotic]

You probably don't...lots of people are born in third world countries that don't have that kind of opportunity.....it's about luck not deserving....that being said you can use the opportunity to help others in which cases you will have in retrospect deserved it.

This is one of the sayings a prof of mine once told me.....life is unfair best to make it unfair to your own advantage.....

I suppose if you would rather struggle through life on minimum wage working part time at two different jobs because no one will hire full time trying to get health insurance you could do that but it's not going to help anyone else if you do.....now if you join a helping profession you can live comfortably but also help advance humanity for the benefit of everyone.

[OnlyFelipe]

Dont waste the opportunity. Grab it. Education is a privilege. Everyone deserve it, so dont think your unrightful of it. Study hard and enjoy your college life.