Today I'm ticked off about my student loans.
Well, for the past 4 years I've been ticked off about my student loans.
When I joined my nursing program in 2002 I had little help from grants. The 2 years before I decided to go to school I worked my tail off. I had 2 jobs and my average work week was between 80-90 hours a week.
What does this mean?
They figured I didn't need any financial help because my income was well above the poverty line. What they failed to realize that going to school would cut into my work week. I kept 2 jobs for a while and went to school full time. I was exhausted. I had to let the part time job go and dropped to a 40 hour work week.
I was poor, buying groceries with Mr. Visa.
In my nursing class about 1/3 of the girls were on government programs. In order to get out of the system they offered these girls a free education which also included free daycare, uniform vouchers, rides to and from class. Excellent idea, but not one of them took the program seriously, not one of them passed their boards, not one of them are currently working as a nurse.
Wasted money.
Two-thirds (65.7%) of 4-year undergraduate students graduate with some debt, and the average student loan debt among graduating seniors is $19,237.
Medical school graduates carry an average of $130,571 in debt.
The average law school student graduates with nearly $80,000 of debt just from law school.
Student loans give everyone the opportunity to follow their dreams. I still can't help but wonder if there is a better way award the hard working people who have proven their dedication to their careers. I will pay off my student loans about the time I retire.
(I'm exaggerating.)
But the excitement I will feel when they are finally payed off will warrant a huge celebration.

~Nursey~