I can provide some common factors that might influence students to stay in college:
Motivation and Goals: You and your friend may have been highly motivated to achieve your academic and career goals, which kept you focused and committed to completing your education.
Support System: Having a strong support system, such as family, friends, or mentors, can significantly impact a student's decision to stay in college. Positive encouragement and emotional support can help overcome challenges.
Financial Considerations: Some students may be driven to finish college to secure better job opportunities and financial stability in the future. Scholarships, grants, or financial aid might also have played a role in enabling you both to continue your studies.
Passion for Learning: If you both have a genuine love for learning and a curiosity for your chosen field of study, it could have been a motivating factor to persevere through difficulties.
Sense of Responsibility: Personal values and a sense of responsibility might have driven you and your friend to complete your education and fulfill your commitments.
Long-term Benefits: Understanding the potential benefits of a college degree, such as increased employability and earning potential, might have encouraged you both to persist despite challenges.
Time and Effort Invested: Sometimes, the sunk cost fallacy comes into play. The amount of time and effort already invested in your education could motivate you both to continue to completion.
Supportive Academic Environment: If your college/university provided a positive and supportive academic environment, it may have contributed to your decision to stay and complete your studies.
Personal Growth: College can offer opportunities for personal growth, development of critical thinking skills, and exposure to diverse perspectives, which could have been meaningful to you and your friend.
Remember that each individual's situation is unique, and the reasons for staying in college can vary widely. Ultimately, it is a personal decision influenced by a combination of factors specific to your circumstances and aspirations.