Don't Let Student Loans Stand Between You And Your Dream | The Odyssey Online
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Don't Let Student Loans Stand Between You And Your Dream

Student loans are a lot of responsibility to take on, but it doesn't mean it isn't the smart option.

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Jonathan Daniel

With only 3 days until my graduation from college, the day I've been dreading all this time has finally come. No, not graduation day itself. The day I have to start talking about student loan repayment.

When you first start school, apply for FASFA and make best friends with your girl Sallie Mae, repayment seems like it's a lifetime away. Even while you're in school you think to yourself "Hmmm, sure graduation is close, but I have that whole grace period thing, we good!"

Until that six month grace period starts and you are in fact not good, not good at all.

The stress balloons, you fear you will be homeless because everything you earn is going to back into an education that couldn't even get you a job good enough to pay it back (Curse you internships!), you think about how much you wish you'd just gone to community college or maybe you're like me and you just spend a lot of time thinking about how you'll spend your evenings when you're a coupon lady scouring the mall for deals. Will it be a wine & cheese vibe or more of an endless supply of Yankee Candles? Only time will tell...

But what if I told you that all of our stressing over hypothetical scenarios was incredibly foolish?

Sure, you're in debt up to your eyeballs and the idea of spending 15 years paying back a 4-year education is mind-boggling (hey college, stop being so overpriced), but no matter what, there is one thing I can promise you: it doesn't last forever.

It is estimated that on average, from birth to the age of 18, you will spend nearly $1M on your child. THAT'S ON AVERAGE. So sure, I spent a lot to go to school, and I'll be paying for it for a brunt of the foreseeable future. But it's not a million bucks and a lifetime commitment. It's also a system designed to let you pay it back over time.

If you're truly passionate about something, and a pricey education is going to increase the chances of you getting to live those passions, then what the hell is holding you back? It's a commitment, I know. But resigning to a life where you don't achieve everything you've ever imagined because of something like money is a commitment too. A commitment to unhappiness.

I may sound over-confident or even preachy (forgive me please) but believe me when I tell you that I'm scared too. It isn't easy or cheap or the ideal situation, but it's not impossible either.

If anything, I've made a pricey bet, and the bet is on me.

The thing that gives me hope in the face of the monster that is student loan debt, is knowing the odds on me winning are pretty damn high. If you believe in yourself the way that you should, the way those around you believe in you, then there is nothing that should hold you back from taking that bet on yourself too.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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The world stopped in 2012 when our beloved show "Gossip Girl" ended. For six straight years, we would all tune in every Monday at 9:00 p.m. to see Upper Eastside royalty in the form of a Burberry headband clad Blair Waldorf. Blair was the big sister that we all loved to hate. How could we ever forget the epic showdowns between her and her frenemy Serena Van Der Woodsen? Or the time she banished Georgina Sparks to a Christian summer camp? How about that time when she and her girls took down Bart Bass? Blair is life. She's taught us how to dress, how to be ambitious, and most importantly, how to throw the perfect shade.

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Because we made it, and because high school seniors deserve to know what they're getting themselves into

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You're moving your stuff onto your floor, and you will encounter people you don't know yet in the hallway. They live on your floor, so you'll awkwardly smile and maybe introduce yourself. As you walk away, you will wonder if they will ever speak to you again, but don't worry, there's a good chance that you will make some great friends on your floor!

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1. "If I'm wearing black tomorrow, it's because I'm mourning my grade."

2. "Do you want to try ordering Chinese takeout to take back to the stacks?"

3. "This final paper has me questioning if this professor just sucks or is Satan himself."

4. "Is that person over there OK? They've been sleeping for a while."

5. "Why are you online shopping?"

"I want to motivate myself to study."

"Since when do you have money to buy something anyway?"

6. "I wonder how much I could make as a stripper."

7. "There are no stress relief dogs, and I feel conned. My stress today is worse than yesterday."

8. "Rate My Professor screwed me over."

9. "I wore these clothes yesterday, and maybe even the day before, but it's fine."

10. "I wonder if I could sneak a beer in here."

11. "I just really want chocolate chip cookies."

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