So Now What

Has your writer’s block ever inspired you to write?

Really me too! Awesome!

Dear US Department of Education

Hey guys, up there in Washington DC. I know you’re all pretty busy right now with this looming fiscal cliff that you all seem so keen to avoid with all the cooperation and discussion going on. In the midst of y’all trying to figure out how to avoid everyone paying more taxes by shoving them off on a certain percentage of the population I wanted to remind you that your income from my bank account is… at an end. That’s right. Thanks for the student loans to help me pay for college- but I’m done. They’re paid off. Sorry about all that interest income you’re going to miss out on- but I’m not that sorry actually. So I hope that you’ve enjoyed seeing those checks come in. Now I do  have a few final requests:

1. If I can do it- then the majority of college education YOUNG ADULTS (not kids- sorry I haven’t been a kid since the day I turned 18) can too. I graduated in 2010 with just under the national average $20,000 in student loan debt. Not three years later I have paid back my debt. For 1 2/3 of those years I was underemployed working in a call -center that didn’t require a college degree. Oh and I paid for my own health insurance too because I’m an adult. Stop treating the young adults of this nation like they’re kids- give us a chance to succeed and a chance to fail since obviously Gen-X had an opportunity to fail and took it (thanks for the housing collapse y’all). My point is that it’s not easy to have debt and it is a challenge to pay it off, but I signed on the dotted line every year to take out those loans, I knew the burden it would be and I accepted the responsibility. Most people my age that I know are willing to accept their responsibilities too- so please News Media, Politicians, whoever- stop acting like we can’t do anything because of our debt- it’s there, we’re working on.
2. Spend it wisely. All of the money I’ve paid back over the last 2 years and change- please spend it wisely. If I have to read one more well reported article about the youth of this nation being failed by sub-standard education requirements, or hear from another teacher that they have been restricted on what they can teach just so they can practice tests- I’m sorry but that does sound like we’re leaving our children behind. (http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/12/americas_shoddy_education_syst.html)  Oh and let’s not forget the HORRIBLE idea of loan payments based on income- so what arts majors won’t get any loans because they don’t have a high expected income upon graduation? That’s ridiculous. I’d hate to think I worked hard for several years to pay back my loans and that the Department of Education can’t think up a decent solution to fixing the education system- what have you been using my money for?

Again, I’m sure you’ll miss my payments. Good luck trying to figure out how to fix things, I’m sure the answers will be much simpler when you put aside partisan politics…

Much love

-Debt free and 23!