Source: EdSource
I lived the college dream — free from my parents’ rules and restrictions that came with living under their roof, but at what cost?
I am graduating from California State University, Dominguez Hills, with a journalism degree. I’ve lived on my own for the past four years and have all the freedom I dreamed of from that moment forward — no curfews, living my desired schedule with my older brother.
I moved out because I felt I needed to pursue my own passion, and my parents weren’t providing that space. For my older sister, living at home while earning her master’s in behavior analysis worked out — but I needed a new mental space, a place I could call mine.
Still, I can now reflect on the high price I’ve paid to make it happen. Living without parental support while attending college means handling everything on my own, including paying for car maintenance, registration, taxes, gasoline, parking passes, groceries and rent.
Constantly having to budget and spend late nights studying to meet deadlines. I realize now that my decision to live independently has had a direct impact on my education.
My brother and I pay $2,900 a month for a two-bedroom apartment. He covers the larger share since I’m finishing my bachelor’s degree and only have a part-time job. He is considerate, knowing that I still have to pay tuition and school expenses, often choosing rent over having weekly groceries.
To keep up with these expenses, I started working with the Los Angeles Unified School District in downtown Los Angeles. I earn $22 an hour working 20 hours a week, starting my shift at 8:30 a.m. and clocking out by 12:30 p.m. — just in time to head straight to my afternoon classes in Carson.
As the final semester approached, I reduced my work hours to 12 per week, taking Tuesdays and Thursdays off to ensure I would still graduate within the typical four years. It was tough fitting school back into my schedule as I stayed on campus until 8:30 p.m. I often found myself having to decide between a whole week of work and committing to attending my courses. Thankfully, my manager understood my situation and allowed me the days off to focus on my senior year.
In 2021, my brother and I moved to Hawthorne. I was finishing my freshman year, and the transition from my family home to the world was rapid. Sharing a one-bedroom apartment with my brother made it clear we needed more room to grow as individuals. Shortly after moving in, I took a year and a half off from college to find a livable wage for myself.
In 2023, we moved to Inglewood, closer to where I was born and raised, which is in South Central Los Angeles. We were looking for a place near home, and this newly renovated apartment felt like the best option, comfortable and close to my campus. We found a two-bedroom that felt manageable at the time, but prices were rising fast. Rent is no longer what it used to be. Since 2010, rent in Los Angeles has increased by 65%.
Living in Inglewood was far from what I had imagined; I thought it would be an easy lifestyle. Most of the time, I stayed at home to save money. While the city has offered me the freedom I crave, it comes with the cost of cutting back on restaurant food and fun outings. I’ve thought about leaving the city, but for now, this is home.
Two months after moving into this new apartment, I was fortunate enough to return to school for the spring semester. I had to balance my time between five classes and a journalism internship, so I reduced my work hours to stay on track academically and to pursue my passion for media and storytelling. In May, I graduated with a journalism degree and hope to launch my career in photojournalism and media as soon as possible.
Having earned my diploma, I finally feel like my sacrifices paid off. There were so many days when I questioned whether I could keep up. Sometimes I found myself stuck in traffic thinking about the assignments I still had to finish or the meals I hadn’t had time to prep, but I pushed through.
I accomplished my goals by learning how to navigate my time and prioritizing what mattered most. Living alone meant less sleep, learning to manage time, and ultimately brought on more stress. But it also gave me purpose, independence and consistency.
In other words, in college, I created a life that worked for me.
Rafael Rodriguez Andrade is a Journalism alumnus from California State University, Dominguez Hills, who worked for the student newspaper, The Bulletin, and is a member of EdSource’s California Student Journalism Corps.
