It isn't everyone's dream to end up at a community college after high school, but for some, it may be seen as the easiest solution.
HCC isn't the only community college around the state of Florida that finds itself within this self diminishing category of "easy to do" schools. It is suspected that high school students see junior colleges a place to be in school, but without having to work too hard.
For Ybor Campus' freshman, Mallory Quinn, the attitude she notices a lot of the kids bringing to her classes are very disappointing.
"I feel like I'm back in high school," Quinn, 19, said, "kids come in late, turn things in late, it's ridiculous."
Quinn, who comes to HCC because her Bright Futures Scholarship pays 100 percent of her tuition, feels she would have been better off paying money at a university in order to feel better about her learning community.
"It's almost like some students come here because it's better than having any real responsibility," Quinn said.
Other students agree, but also feel these lazy quirks in some students shouldn't affect others as much. Dale Mabry Campus sophomore Lindsey Culligan, 19, said that although there are students who tend to slack off in class, it doesn't and shouldn't say anything about the institution and its goals.
"I don't let others determine how I do in all of my classes," Culligan said. "That's up to me."
She explains that if other people's attitudes determine how well she does, then she's the one with the problem. Culligan says if she disciplines herself enough, she knows she will do well later on. What do "Outsiders" think?
University of South Florida freshman, Erin Marsh, 19, said her friends who attend HCC have a far less work load than she does, but she understands why.
"Community college is a stepping stone," Marsh said."It's an in-between stage for people who aren't ready for the culture shock of a university." Marsh doesn't believe this is the only reason students go to community college, however. Many, like Quinn, go as a way of saving money.
"I have a lot of friends who graduated high school with a 5.0 GPA but go to HCC," Marsh said. "It's wrong for people to judge."
So, should HCC continue to bear the burden of a reputation as a "blow-off" institution? Or, should people really do their research?
According to a study done by the National Science Foundation, the two most important reasons for students attending community colleges were to complete credits towards a bachelor's degree and to gain further skills in academic or occupational fields. Students attending due to financial issues ranked fifth on a list of nine.
However, the study showed that students at universities with lower grade point averages were more likely to have attended community college than those with higher averages.
It seems this issue can only be resolved at the will of the students. The statistics stand out, but as for Culligan, she doesn't agree with those who look down on her school.
"Your education is what you want it to be," Culligan said. "It will only be fulfilling if you make sure you end up where you want to be."
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