Thread by @SusanDarraj

I've been teaching at a #CommunityCollege for fifteen years. I'm tenured, I teach English, literature, and creative writing. Here's what I wish most people could understand about community colleges...

1. 50% of the students in the USA who are in college at actually at a comm college, and many of them still need financial aid. We make a college dream a reality for 50% of all college students.

2. We take everyone. Some of my students could be honors students at any prestigious 4-year-school but cannot afford it, so they start here. We also have students who read on a 6th grade level and barely made it through high school. We take everyone, and WE DON'T JUDGE THEM.

3. Our students work hard. They often also hold full-time or multiple part-time jobs, take care of children or older relatives, and still come to class and do the work.

4. They are intellectually curious like all students; they like to stay after class and discuss WEB DuBois and Jane Austen and Rabindranath Tagore. They want to know how to make their dialogue more realistic, their plot lines more suspenseful. They inspire me every day.

5. We are aware of what you call us. The stigma is very obvious. When someone tells you they attend a comm college and you joke about the 13th grade, you are making fun of someone's dream and showing your elitism.

6. I just wish we could be kinder, respect that everyone has a different path. Comm colleges are a solid path, and we welcome all travelers, as far as they need to go.

7. I'm a published author. I've won an American Book Award and a Ford Fellowship. I've spoken at national conferences/given keynotes. I'm a professor at a community college bc I was a #firstgen college student. I see myself in my own students. They keep me real. They inspire me.

I'm proud to teach at a #CommunityCollege. Our students are proud to be here. Negative people... take your condescending attitudes elsewhere. We're too busy for you.

Thanks to everyone for your positive feedback on this thread, esp your personal testimonies to the effectiveness of CCs.

But the stigma is real. Here's a tshirt I saw back in the fall at a popular store, making fun of CC students. Let's all do better to push back against this kind of elitism. Let's respect all paths.

Last thing: u don't need to have moved on & finished a 4-yr degree to be a #CommunityCollege success imho. If u came and discovered James Baldwin, if u studied intl business, if u learned how to build a website... if u left w/o a degree but w/ a bigger worldview, THIS IS SUCCESS.

If you attended a CC, tag them and thank them here! #endccstigma #communitycollege