CREDIT: THINKSTOCK (SERGEY PETERMAN)
Having your parents pay your tuition may seem like a good idea but it will only set you farther back in the long run.

Many students have the luxury of their parents forking out thousands of dollars a year to pay for their tuition.

This makes students who have to work and save the money to pay their own tuition a little frustrated.

However, what these people may not know is that paying your own tuition has several benefits and you will probably be further ahead in the long run.

With an increase of people living with their parents well into their thirties, it is important that young people start learning how to prioritize their funds at a young age.

One of the biggest benefits to paying your own tuition is it teaches you how to budget.

Students generally do not have a large income while in school but if the small income they do have must go to tuition, textbooks and rent then they will learn early on how to be good with their money.

When students pay their own tuition, they will be able to learn how to prioritize their money and become smart spenders. When you are out of school, your parents will not be there to foot the bill so learning early on how to spend your money will benefit you in the future. I also believe that students who have to pay for their own education are more likely to perform better in their classes.

They will be able to see the connection between the dollar amount and their grades.

Failing a class would not be as realistic for these students because they know they would have to pay to take the course again.

There is an independence and maturity required to funding your own education, which would also shine through in the classroom.

Another benefit to paying for your own college or university is the sense of freedom that comes from not relying on someone else to pay.

When your parents pay for your school they may have certain expectations about how you perform in school or behave which may not align with yours.

They can use the, “I pay for your school so I want you to study every night and get an A”, line that would annoy any young adult.

If you are paying for your own school, you will be able to set personal goals and aim to meet your own standard of how you want to perform in the classroom.

If you want to go to the bar on a Saturday night or on a weekend trip with your friends, your parents will not have the right to tell you how to behave.

Many students who are paying for their own school will work a part-time job throughout their program.

Learning how to manage school and work simultaneously will help you develop time management and organizational skills.

In the future, you will have to balance a lot more than 15 hours of class a week so adding a part time job on to that will help you learn how to develop a routine that works for a busy schedule.

Although having your tuition paid for makes things a lot easier, it does not teach you as many life skills that you will need when you go into the real world.

Busy schedules and bills will be your reality a few short years after college and it is beneficial to start learning how to handle these things now.

You are working towards becoming a professional adult so it is time to stop letting mom and dad take care of you and start being accountable for yourself.<
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.