Ah yes the good old phrase, “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps,” is a staple in American culture. We in fact are the country of opportunity where many an immigrant has come to chase their fortune and better their life. America has many opportunities. I was able to become educated as a woman which is not something all countries have and I have moved freely multiple times without any problems which again is something not all people can do in other countries.

There’s a great debate going on with this next election that some canidates are pushing to get rid of student debt since it’s impacting many young people who want to buy houses, start a family, or even they just need money to survive. Those who do not  agree with getting rid of student debt usually say something such as, “I was able to put myself through college working a part time job and I didn’t attend a fancy school and majored in a reasonable career not something like philsophy. Therefore, all you students made stupid choices and need to reap the seeds you have sown.”

Now before I argue why this mentality is the most horendous notion ever let me continue to say I do not think college should be free. I believe in toxic charity and the idea of just giving things away to people without them having to earn anything is not good. There is something said about knowing the value of working hard to achieve something and those who are just given things without any expecations sometimes take those things for granted. However here are some reasons why the “I did it this way so you can do it too” doesn’t fly.

Community College, Fancy College, You still can have Debt

I am one of the 44 million Americans who have student loan debt. I attended college out of state, but it was cheaper for me to attend school in Iowa. Yes, I could have attended the local community college and had significantly less debt but it was not the best choice for me. My brother, did attend a community college before going to the University that I attended and still has debt so this notion of going to community college first to prevent debt doesn’t neccessarily work anyways.

Most people I knew in college worked Part time if not Multiple Jobs

I have no idea why people think students don’t work today. All throughout college I had multiple jobs but minimum wage in Iowa is a $7.25. Please tell me how working even full time at $7.25 can pay for your college tuition? Working 40 hours at $7.25 is about $13,920 a year but I did not take out taxes so it would be signifcantly less. Average tuition in Iowa is about $9,000 but that does not include room and board and textbooks.

Not All Majors are “silly” and still make significantly less

I went to school to become a teacher. The amount of debt I have versus my monthly pay check doesn’t balance. My first year as a teacher I took home roughly $800 dollars every two weeks. Wal-Mart cashiers were making more than me. If I had a child, I would have qualified for food stamps. If anyone thinks education is a “silly useless” major they need to think of how that could significanlty impact our country. Teacher shortage is no joke but why would anyone want to go into a field where you pay the same amount of money for school as everyone else but make a lot less? I know I have had people tell me, “You knew that your income would be little, so don’t complain about the money that was your choice.” Well, OK buddy still doesn’t make it right. If no one fights for the equality of pay who will?

Social workers are dealing with similiar isues and many of them who go into social work need to get their masters to advance which is even more debt. A lot of programs where you get your masters, you must take a internship which is often unpaid and prevents you from working.

My only saving grace is hopefully in another 5 years I can apply for loan forgivenes. However, 99% of the people who applied for this have been denied so that outlook isn’t looking so good.

In my opinion, if Loan Forgivness Programs actually work, they are a great idea. People are earning their way back and can know that eventually they can see some relief. Right now loan forgivness programs are for careers such as educators, nurses, social workers, police officers, and firemen among many others.

Things aren’t the same as they were “back in the day”

Student loans interests rates are ridiculous. My current rate is almost 7%. My car loan on the other hand is 1%. I will have my car loan paid off soon while I won’t even be close with my student loan. Now, if there could be a plan to get those rates lowered or  taken away more people could pay off their loans.

In 1980, the average cost of college for all four years was $9,970. Now, that’s one year of tutition. More people could pay off their college while working part time with that kind of cost but it’s not 1980 anymore.

People can not compared to what they went through if it was years ago. The standards are not the same.

Your life experience is not the same as everyone else

“If I can do it, you can too,” is not a logical statement. Everyone has different life experiences and circumstances. This is casting blame and judgement for those who are trying but can’t get out of poverty, debt, or addiction.

In the case of college debt, if you are a recent grad and made it out debt free maybe you have some say in this crisis. However, if you went to college 20 plus years ago remember the cost has increased signigicantly, interests rates are high, and the minimum wage has stayed stagnant for 10 years but prices have not.

Maybe you had a rough start to life and were able to make it. Congrats! However, not everyone can. It all comes down to wealth, race, and opportunities. If you don’t happen to get lucky in the gamble of life you might not make it out.

Sure, you can make your own luck by working hard but that doesn’t happen for everyone. For example, in order to get a decent job, you need to at least finish high school and go to trade school or maybe college. But, what if don’t finish high school because you’re reading level is significanlty lower than most which impacted your ability to learn and do well on tests? This didn’t just happen because you’re lazy, in fact you’re the opposite of lazy but you are tired. You’re tired of being behind in your class since kindergarten because your parents for some reason or another didn’t have time to help you or read to you or give you the love you needed to grow. Your teachers tried to get you the help you needed but increase class sizes and higher demands never closed the gap you so desperately needed. Maybe a private tutor in the summer would have helped but the cost of a tutor is $20 to $30 dollars an hour. Your parents couldn’t have afforded rent let alone a tutor.

Or maybe you have recently been diagnosed with depression. Aunt Susie says she knows a girl who has depression who started doing yoga and now she’s fine. Why don’t you start doing yoga? Sitting in bed isn’t going to help you out. You need to get out and live! Meanwhile, Aunt Susie doesn’t realize a symptom of depression is not being able to physically get out of bed to do the things needed to get better and the cycle continues.

We Need Empathy Not the Blame Game

I read a quote recently that states, “We need to stop putting others in their place, and put ourselves in their place.” People can judge all they want but unless you are that person you have no idea what is going on with them. Explaining to others that “I was able to do this so others can too if they act more responsible” is such a childish thing to say. It reminds me of when my sibilings got things that I never got and I would whine  that “Why did I have to pay for this but they don’t have too?” Was it fair? Not neccessarily, but having things fair and having things equitable are two different things. The mature response is to be happy for the opportunites my brothers were able to get not to shame them or my parents.

This also applies to society. Just because you didnt’ get this chance does that mean everyone else should have to suffer? Progress does not happen if we were to say, “Well back in my day I had to drink at a separate water fountain so every other person should too.” That statement sounds ridiculous and though it’s an extreme it is also relevant to college debt crisis and other issues such as health care.

There is so more to a human than what appears at first glance. Humans are more than the mistakes they may have made. Sometimes, those mistakes are due to circumstance out of their control.

Life is a roll of the dice. Be grateful for the things you have and do not shun those who haven’t made the same progress as you.