"I chose life. That is to say, I defaulted on my student loans. It struck me as absurd that one could amass crippling debt as a result, not of drug addiction or reckless borrowing and spending, but of going to college. Having opened a new life to me beyond my modest origins, the education system was now going to call in its chits and prevent me from pursuing that new life, simply because I had the misfortune of coming from modest origins.
Some people will maintain that a bankrupt father, an impecunious background and impractical dreams are just the luck of the draw. Someone with character would have paid off those loans and let the chips fall where they may. But I have found, after some decades on this earth, that the road to character is often paved with family money and family connections."
You may have read the controversial article "Why I Defaulted on My Student Loans," published earlier this summer by "The New York Times." As I read through almost every comment, I noticed the responses were either supportive or downright repulsed with this author. It's hard not to have an opinion and keep an open mind when the subject hits so close to home for many students. It's especially difficult to not feel a little angry and offended by the entitled attitude of the author.
College is expensive. Everyone can agree paying for higher education is a huge burden for those who choose that path in life. The obvious statement that life isn't fair seems apt. There's always going to be someone wealthier, smarter, and more attractive than you. It's a pretty blunt concept that many people don't want to accept. Not everyone gets to grow up with unlimited resources and endless opportunities. Somehow people have developed this sense of entitlement, expecting that when they want something, they should get it no matter the cost. Life doesn't work that way. I'm a strong proponent of dreaming big, pushing yourself to realize your full potential and choosing to do what makes you happy, but not when it means avoiding obligations and responsibilities.
Yes, there is much improvement to be made on the current cost of obtaining a college degree, but the author even said it himself, “If everyone acted as I did, chaos would result.” The economic system would fall apart if we all decided ourselves just when we felt like paying our bills. College, like anything else, is a choice that comes with consequences. You can choose the $200 pair of shoes or the $50 pair, the choice is yours, but not matter what, you eventually have to pay for them. The author chose to go to Columbia for a bachelor’s and master’s degree -- great choice, but you have to pay for it.
Life isn’t always going to be comfortable, and reaching your goals may take longer than expected. Still, I’m a firm believer in doing the right thing, even when it’s the toughest choice. Paying off an Ivy League education is tough, but it’s doable. There is no excuse or justification that entitles one person to such a prestigious education without paying for it. Everyone deserves an education, but you have to be realistic about your limitations.
So keep learning, make goals, and dream big, but never believe your dream is more important than someone else’s and make them pay for it. Having character means having integrity. Be a good human being and fulfill your responsibilities, or else you may find yourself receiving the stink eye whenever you walk into a room.
