Turns out this is a week of milestones. Yesterday I celebrated 5 years at my job and today I celebrate paying off my student loan debt. I’m very fortunate to have graduated college with minimal debt. I went to a great college – University of Michigan-Dearborn – but lived at home. As a result, I was spared costs of room and board. I worked throughout college to afford my living costs and books. Scholarships also helped to pay a good portion of my tuition. My Mom helped by letting me live at home but I’m proud that I was able to pay for school myself.
To be free of student loan debt is a luxury few people in my generation can afford. Too many of my friends are struggling with monthly loan payments that are equivalent to a mortgage. I fear that the burden put on young people will have a detrimental impact on our country’s growth and I fervently hope that additional steps are taken to relieve individuals and families of this monstrous burden.
Although I would love to continue my education, the high costs have killed any dreams I’ve had of going back to school for a Masters degree. I simply can’t afford it. While society promotes college for success I can’t help but be skeptical. As a lover of education it pains me but I feel that I have to be cautious when talking to younger family members or my MEP girls about going to college. I think it is important but if a person is not certain about what they want to do in life or not committed to the hard work college requires, he/she may be better off pursuing other options and avoiding the debt. It’s a very depressing reality.
(Source: Rebuild The Dream)
CarrieDaway 