While lounging on my grandparent’s porch enjoying a piece of watermelon after a particularly long day at work, my very adorable and very curious three-year old cousin strolled over and asked, “Hey “Telsey” why you wearin’ pants?” *Disclaimer: I always wear pants and so does everyone in my family. She was referring of course to my dressy work pants that apparently looked as warm and uncomfortable as they felt on this hot summer’s eve.* “Well, sweetie I had to work today.” “Why?” I should have seen this one coming. “I have to go to work to make money.” “Why?” She’s relentless. “I have to make money to pay off my student loans.” *Disclaimer: Molly has NO idea what a loan is.* Instead of her customary response, she simply scrunched her little nose and with the cutest look of disgust, ended the boring conversation and walked away. I couldn’t help but smile. My feelings exactly.
Earlier that morning I had submitted my monthly dues to the United States government and just like every previous month, clicking the submit button on the payment page felt like a sucker punch to the gut. As was my habit, I quickly checked my bank account. Now I make other payments for a variety of credit cards, cell phone bills, and gym memberships, and I swear to the heavens that no other collection company withdrawals money faster than those who govern the land of the free. As usual, the substantial chunk of my hard-earned wages had vanished faster than you can say, “Great Lakes Borrowers Services.”
Nothing prepares you for paying for your college degree. Not even college prepares you for paying for college. No matter how many alumni and leadership scholarships you received, how many work study positions you held, or how many packs of ramen noodles you digested to save money, the price tag on a quality undergraduate diploma is outrageous. And from what I understand with my limited political and financial comprehension, it is only worsening for future collegiate bound hopefuls. My fiancé, if writing this blog, would take the next 4-8 paragraphs to explain how America got itself in this predicament and how we must dig ourselves out of it. Luckily for you, he’s not writing this blog.
As a forever optimist, I will simply use the rest of this post to impart my fellow indebted colleagues with a little motivation. May this simple sentenc offer the necessary incentive to keep working hard and to pay off the loans fully and on time. Feel free to write it down, share it amongst friends, or recite it over and over again.
“They know where you live, and they will find you.”
Happy paying,
Kelsey
With Love, Kelsey 