I was blessed with an amazing childhood. I grew up in a safe, suburban area with a great educational system. My parents gave me the world, and for that, I’m very grateful. My parents always stressed the importance of reaching for my dreams, and they supported me in whatever I wanted to do, even if it seemed far out of reach.

As I got older, I started to appreciate my parents even more. While searching for my dream college, my parents formally announced that they would be paying for my tuition and living expenses. Even at 18 years old, I had no idea what that thoroughly entailed. I always pictured myself going to college from a young age, but I had never taken the time to think about the financial aspect of it. I had no concept of just how expensive college was or how student loans worked. Even though I had a lot of unanswered questions on the matter, I didn’t need to stress over any of it. Everything was taken care of by my parents.

When I got to college, I started to hear more and more about student loans. Several of my professors surveyed the class at some point asking how many of us had student loans. I was shocked when nearly every hand in my 500-person lecture was up in the air. I watched as my classmates looked around them to see who had his or her hands down. It was in that moment that I realized just how lucky I was to have my hand placed nervously in my lap.

But the topic of student loans was more than just a conversation that took place in the classroom. It was only a matter of time before other people I knew were opening up to me about their student debt. I didn’t know what to say. I felt terrible, but I obviously couldn’t relate. I started to feel as if I was being judged every time I admitted, “My parents are paying for my education” under my breath. Some people made me feel guilty for not having any student loans, which really started to get to me. On several occasions, I could tell that people were automatically writing me off as a spoiled brat, and it hurt because that wasn’t the case at all.

There are two sides to every story, and sometimes I feel as if those who aren’t in my situation don’t understand it. I didn't "choose" to be in a position where my parents paid for my education, and I certainly never felt like I was entitled to it. I'm not a brat just because my parents pay for my education—I'm quite the opposite.

Contrary to the beliefs of others, I can't just call my parents whenever I need money for this or that and have them transfer money into my account. More importantly, I would never want to have that type of relationship with my parents to begin with. Sure, they help me out financially, but I pay for a lot on my own, too. I’ve had a job ever since I was 16, and if I want something, I pay for it myself. I'm aware that I’m very fortunate, but I'm not spoiled by any means. It’s extremely frustrating when people judge me based off of something that I never had any control over.

Now at age 22, I’m about to graduate from college. I may not have a job lined up yet, but I don't have any student loans, and I'm forever in metaphorical debt to my parents for that. I’m finally able to fully understand just how much they have done for me, and I can only hope one day that I will be able to do the same for my children. My parents made my dream of going to college a reality in more ways than I had ever realized was possible, and I can never thank them enough for that.

Before you judge someone for not having student loans, take a step back and put yourself in their shoes. You’ll be surprised to learn that not everyone whose parents help them out financially is a brat. In fact, many of us are more appreciative than we could ever begin to put into words.