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| The author joined the Marines instead of going to college. Courtesy of Miguel Echols |
Growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, the options for how to shape your future felt limited. In my neighborhood, your identity often hinged on what you could do physically. If you were tall and lanky, you were expected to play basketball. If you were stockier, football was your path. I loved soccer, but I was discouraged early on. I gave basketball a shot but never made the team. Like a lot of kids, I also dipped into music tried rapping, writing lyrics but it didn’t take long to realize it wasn’t going to pay the bills.
Eventually, it felt like I had two choices: go to college or join the military.
College was the default answer that everyone seemed to push, but it never felt like the right fit for me. I didn’t have a plan, a dream school, or even a major in mind. The thought of sitting in classrooms for another four years and coming out the other side with debt didn’t appeal to me. I didn’t want to wait four years just to start earning money. I wanted something different something more immediate, more purposeful.
When I really thought about it, I knew what I wanted most: to travel, to work, and to grow up quickly. I wanted to explore the world and gain life experience, and I didn’t want to wait until I was in my mid-20s to do that. The military offered all of that, and more.
I Did My Homework Before Enlisting
I didn’t jump into the decision blindly. I spent months researching. I needed to make sure this wasn’t just an impulsive detour from college it had to be the right move.
I read up on all the branches. I talked to recruiters. I interviewed veterans and retirees. I created pro-and-con lists comparing each branch against my goals and personality. I wasn’t just looking for a job. I was looking for a lifestyle, a challenge, a transformation.
It came down to the Army or the Marines. Both had their appeal, but I couldn’t make the call. So I prayed. That night, I had a vivid dream: I was wearing the Marine Dress Blues, marching proudly with a rifle in hand. I woke up and knew exactly what I needed to do.
The dream didn’t feel like imagination it felt like destiny. I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps.
The Marines Gave Me the Life College Couldn’t
Not everyone supported my choice. Some were concerned that I’d be shipped off to dangerous places. Others just didn’t understand why I’d pick the military over college. But I knew what I was doing.
Joining the Marines turned out to be one of the most impactful decisions of my life.
It gave me what I was craving: structure, discipline, travel, and the ability to start earning right away. I got to live out the adventures most people only see in movies riding helicopters, driving military trucks, handling real equipment, and serving alongside some of the toughest and most inspiring people I’ve ever met. I was living a real-life G.I. Joe dream.
And along the way, something else happened. My worldview expanded. Before the Marines, I didn’t even like kids. I was pretty closed off. But service especially overseas opened me up to people, cultures, and perspectives I never would’ve encountered otherwise. It made me more human.
Most importantly, it made me realize what I truly wanted out of life. I thought I’d stay for 20 years. That was the original plan. But once I discovered my passion for travel and a nomadic lifestyle, I made the decision to move on.
The Military Set Me Free Literally and Financially
One of the biggest advantages of choosing the Marines over college? No student loan debt.
While many of my peers are still paying off tens of thousands of dollars, I walked away with experience, income, and a clean financial slate. That freedom both mental and financial is worth more than any degree I could’ve earned.
The military didn’t just teach me how to follow orders or survive boot camp. It taught me that I’m capable of building the life I want. It gave me discipline, patience, and the confidence to make bold decisions.
Today, I don’t regret skipping college. Not even for a second. The path I chose let me become someone I never could’ve imagined someone stronger, more capable, and more grounded than the teenage version of me ever thought possible.
The Road Less Taken Was the Right One for Me
Choosing the military over college was unconventional even risky by some people’s standards. But it was my risk, and I took it. And because of that decision, I’m now living with clarity, purpose, and the freedom to continue building my life on my own terms.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: the path that scares you the one most people avoid might just be the one that’s meant for you.
