The education system in America has become a broken and failing business setup. The idea of having a college degree has become an out of reach luxury, and no one seems to bat an eye. In order to become successful, this idea of receiving higher education is essential. How is our generation supposed to do that when the economy is failing, and banks are going bankrupt? This is a question that wouldn't have even crossed my mind if my parents never told me they couldn't pay for me to go to college.

I remember the day clearly, I came home from high school after a mini college fair with pamphlets in hand. I remember the smell of the books as I opened them to see prestigious universities, with out of this world campuses, and elite alumni. But what I remember most, is turning to the tuition/room and board page and hearing my mother say:

"We don't have this kind of money."

What? I was astonished; I knew we weren't rich by any means. We lived in a nice home in the suburbs, my dad worked all the time. My mother had to stay at home to take care of my brother who was special needs and medically fragile. My dad made enough money to support the family, so my mom didn't need a second income. We struggled at times, but I always remember us getting through it. But no money for college?

My mom had a plan set up before I was born for $20,000 for me to go to college. In 1994, this amount was reasonable for a college student to use in 4 years. When the stock market crashed in 2007, we lost almost half, leaving me with only $10,000 for four years of school. That is all I had to work with, some federal aid, and no private loans.

I remember the conversation I had with my high school friends as I was sitting at the lunch table, my boyfriend at the time said: "My mom has over $50,000 saved in my college fund."

My best friend said: "My mom set up a 529 plan and I have over $81,000 in credits for college and room & board."

I felt so embarrassed, but I kept my head up and started searching for funds. My grades were bad, and I mean really bad. So I was already in the hole with a limited number of schools wanting to accept me.

In the end, I found a state school which I fell in love with and began searching for funding. To say it was a happy ending would be far fetched, but over the last four years I have learned many things about what it is like to pay your own way through college:

1. It is really hard to pay $18,000 a year on your own.

I receive a portion in federal and state loans, in which are at high-interest rates. But I still need another $10,500, where will that come from? I don't have anyone to co-sign my loans and I most certainly do not have that kind of money laying around.

2. Work, work, work, then school, work, work, work.

I work all the time, and when I am not working, I'm working on school. When you have to come up with 10 grand in a year, there really isn't an option other than to work constantly. I don't have time to party all the time, or spend money frivolously. I have to be aware and conscious in order to make sure I have enough to pay each semester.

3. Jealousy happens.

It is so easy to become jealous of the kids who don't have to work, and literally get handed everything they have ever wanted. I want to scream and cry when I see people who party and fail out of school. Congratulations you have just wasted some of your precious financial aid that I could have used.

4. Professors aren't always understanding.

I have had, on more than one occasion, an advisor say to me, "Are you still planning on working next semester? Why don't you just take out a private loan?" I want to just spontaneously combust.

5. I am the bomb at managing money and watching my loans.

If this experience has taught me anything, it is how to budget and what an interest rate is. I have watched my loans carefully since day one. Even started paying on some of them already to keep my payments down later. There are some students out there who have no idea what they're getting into.

6. I am not alone in this struggle.

There are so many students out there who are just struggling to get by on their own just like I am. They shouldn't be, because college should be a time to thrive and grow not just pay bills and die.

7. The system caters to single moms, married people, and the poor.

After researching how to find funds for college, I found out how many more single moms, married women, and destitute poor people get from financial aid. How is this fair? Am I supposed to get married and have a baby in order to pay for college? It doesn't seem to add up to me.

8. I have the best work ethic.

For the longest time, I resented my parents for not being able to pay for everything. I soon learned how important it is to work hard and earn every bit of what you have. I take college so seriously and never miss a class. I communicate actively with my professors, and only go out on the weekends when I have no work to do. My planning skills are the best they will ever be. I would have never done any of these things if I wasn't forced to learn the hard way.

9. After college, I know how much and how long I will be paying for school.

Has anyone ever sat down with you and done the math for your student loans? I know right now that I won't be paying more than $400 a month. That's because I paid a good portion out of pocket and stayed away from the private banks.