We live in a day and age where attending college is necessary in order to economically progress. Unfortunately, there are becoming fewer and fewer careers available where you can be hired without having obtained some form of secondary education. It is not a secret that attending college will nearly cost you an arm and a leg--the cost of college tuition and fees have risen 63% within the last ten years (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and according to the College Board, the average budget for the 2016-2017 academic year was $24,610 at in-state public colleges and $49,320 at private colleges (College Data). Although ridiculous, burdening, and demoralizing, this is the reality of our higher education system.

I come from a working-class family, and my parents are not financially equipped to afford the outrageous costs of college for me. This being said, small scholarships and grants in addition to student loans are the only reasons I am able to attend a university. If I could attend college without taking out loans, I absolutely would; it is safe to say that I do not enjoy the feeling of being locked into to debt by ball and chain. Additionally, it is a misconception that those who have student loans seek handouts, or mindlessly use them to have extra money to blow. However, for myself and many students, this is not the case. I use my student loans to cover the necessary costs of tuition, books, and housing, and when necessary, other expenses that I need for living. Not everyone is fortunate enough to have the resources they need to live and progress easily accessible, so additional aid can be very useful when handled wisely.

A common misconception is that if you have to take out student loans for college, you essentially did not work hard enough in high school. Statements like this are not only inaccurate, but demonstrate a lack of recognition of the degree of privilege involved in receiving scholarships. It would not be accurate to say that I did not apply myself or work hard enough in high school, preventing me from earning awards. I built my résumé wishing to stand out amongst other applicants--I graduated an Honors Student with a 3.9 GPA, and took several AP courses. I was a member of numerous clubs and organizations within my school and community, many of which I was elected as an officer. I spent my senior year applying for various scholarships that were listed locally, online, and through my (then prospective) university, where I ultimately came up short. The barrier with local scholarships is that if you are from a small town like me, many students are competing for the same few scholarships, and less money is available to be distributed. Random scholarships found through the Internet would have hundreds, if not thousands of applicants, so being selected for those are greatly a chance of luck. My university does not have endless options of scholarship programs for incoming freshmen, and there are very few scholarships that are guaranteed to be awarded based on an ACT or SAT score. Needless to say, if you are awarded a scholarship, especially awarded enough to be debt-free, you should be extremely grateful for they are not always easily attainable.

It is also a common opinion that it is best to work and earn enough at a job while attending college so you can be debt-free. If you are someone who can work full-time as well as attend college full-time, I sincerely commend you. Many who have the ability to do this have a sense of pride and accomplishment, but it is also common to have the attitude that everyone else should and can be doing the same. I fill my schedule working twenty hours per week at a part-time job (most of which goes toward groceries, additional bills, and savings), attending class as a full-time university student, and prioritizing my studies above all else, all while trying to maintain my mental health and not drive myself insane. I can honestly say that I have reached my limit--physically, emotionally, and financially--just trying to make it through these rigorous undergraduate years. Ultimately, everyone has different situations and challenges to overcome throughout life. So, someone that boasts about being able to work full-time and be a full-time student is failing to recognize the differences in opportunities available and the extent of what someone can handle.

I am fully aware of the obligations and potential risks entailed in using a student loan. Knowing that I am already in debt, have recurring interest, and will be tied to paying back loans for several years is a large source of anxiety for me. Many will judgmentally say something along the lines of, “If you know that you can’t afford moving off to go to college, then you should not be!” While people will choose different strategies for success throughout their adult life, my choice was to attend a university. This was always my plan growing up, and I was not going to allow myself to settle for less. I firmly believe that gaining a quality education will go far, and I am determined to achieve academically in order to help myself have a better life. With this in mind, I constantly push myself to excel in my classes, pursue ambitious opportunities, and prepare myself to qualify for a prosperous career. I do these things not simply with hope to be economically at ease, but to also have the ability to pay back my student loans in a manageable enough state to where I can live comfortably otherwise.

If you are someone who does not have to have student loans, and/or earned enough scholarships to cover your education costs, you have the right to be proud. While I will admit that I am a bit envious, I only ask that you do not put down those of us who not have the same circumstances. Personally, I am not ashamed of having to take out student loans. Nevertheless, I am persistent to curtail my debt by continuing to make a paycheck, and working hard so I can apply for more scholarships as I qualify for them. Even if these fall short, I will do what I have to do in order to realistically achieve my goals, and I am determined to make my efforts in college and the debt required in doing so worth something.