I’m only on my first year of college still, yet i owe 5,000+ USD so far. I’m a poor college kid, my family doesn’t have a lot of money either. We’re not poor enough to get a ton of financial aid, but we can’t pay for what isn’t covered so i have to take out loans. If I owe the same amount every year i’ll be 22,000 USD in debt at age 22. We don’t own a house we rent, my step dad has an okay job, and my mom works at a friends bar during the day shift making below minimum wage and hardly tips because no one goes to the bar during the day. My step dad busts his ass working 12 hour night shifts, but we’re still barely floating.
What am i even going to college for? I haven’t picked a major yet because i’m still trying to work out which one will land me a decent job, but then what? I work my ass off every day to pay back 22,000 dollars? After that, i’m working my ass off for a couple vacation days or paid time off once in awhile? I’m working my ass of so that i don’t get time for hobbies or myself? So that i MIGHT get to retire one day when i’m old? So that i MIGHT POSSIBLY be able to buy a house one day, but that’s a strong might? What’s the point in all this? When do i get to live the life i want? Oh wait, i don’t, because like everyone else in my family i get to work until i die and probably still be some how in debt and if i have kids i get to barely leave anything for them when i die except the sadness and grief that comes with losing a parent. That’s what i get to leave when i die, grief.
My kids get to wish they were born to some millionaires who hoarded all their wealth and preys on the unfortunate souls who need to work to live. After I die it’s my kids turn to work until they die so their kids can with the same thing, that is if we even make it that long.
I’m just struggling to see a point in all this work, i went through high school to get my diploma, college to get a degree, what will i be working my ass off for? For the right to live? For the right to afford basic human necessities? Nah, screw this. This all needs to change.