Reader: Students with debt have varied circumstances
Letter to the editor
Dear editor,
I have not been able to get an article out of my mind since I read it in early December. A father had posted an article stating that college kids need to “get over it” and start doing something about graduating with debt. I understand the issue and that this may be true for some, but for others it is the complete opposite.
As for myself, I have worked at least 20 hours a week since I was 16 years old, mostly 40 hours in the summer months. I did not come from a wealthy family, but my parents did all they could to provide the most for our family. I am now a sophomore in college with enough debt that it will take a while to pay off.
This is not because I did not work and save throughout high school or even now. This is because I have bills like an average adult, go to school full-time, and work as much as I can. I also was not fortunate enough for my parents to help pay for school, physically join the armed forces, work more than I already am, and save most of my paychecks. I feel as I am in the group of fortunate individuals due to knowing many people in the same boat that have less financial aid, less scholarships, and more debt overall than I do.
I agree that making decisions to help pay for college may be the route to take, such as joining the armed forces, but for many individuals, that might not be an option.
My point out of all of this is that not every college kid is complaining because they are lazy, do not want to get a job, or do not know how to save. They are expressing their feelings of frustration while going for a career to better themselves along with future hopes of providing the assistance to their children as they go off to college.
Samantha Strasser
Stevens Point
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