College is a blessing. Getting the chance to further your education and study what you love is an amazing opportunity. I think through the stress and busyness of college, we forget how lucky we are to be here.
I talk to a lot of people, friends at other schools and people who go to USF, and they all say pretty much the same thing: I'm going to be in debt when I graduate. Most of my friends have had to take out loans to pay for their schooling. Then they ask me about my financial status, and while I do have expenses to pay, college isn't one of them. I tell them I haven't had to take out any loans because my parents are paying for my college. Their response? Wow, that must be nice.
Now, I'm not rich. I'm not spoiled either. My parents are working class Americans and if you looked at their bank account you'd think they were broke. So how are they managing to pay for my college? I have no idea. I believe that God helps people find a way and he has with them. But there's two sides to this story. Having parents pay for college may seem like the best thing (and it really is amazing) but I can't help but feel guilty.
I never asked my parents to pay for my college so I shouldn't feel guilty about it. From day one, as in my first day on this planet, it was already decided that I was going to college and they would pay for me. I am the first in my family to go to college. My parents both just graduated from high school and went into the workforce. This is a huge honor for them. But having them pay so much for me to further my education makes me feel guilty. I feel guilty because I know they could use that money for themselves. That money could be used to get my little sister cool stuff. It can be used for them to go on vacation, to eat out more, or most importantly to finish paying their bills. I sometimes feel like I'm causing them to live on a tighter budget which isn't fun.
When I talk to my mom and dad about kids having to pay for their own college and going into debt, they are shocked. They don't understand how some kids don't have their parents paying for (or at least helping pay for) college. They go on to tell me that having a child in college makes them so proud and they don't want me to be in debt like they are now. This is their way of helping me stay out of it, at least for a while.
So I stop and I think, should I feel guilty about having my parents pay for my college? They have had to sacrifice so much to help me succeed in life. They are so proud of me. So, I try not to feel guilty. I focus on my schoolwork, study hard, and work towards that degree. And when I've established myself and have my career, I will take care of them. If there was something they wanted but couldn't afford, I'm going to get it for them. When they retire, they won't have to worry, because I will make sure they are taken care of. And I will do this not out of guilt, but out of pride. Because I am proud to have two hard working parents who cared enough to sacrifice everything for me.
