Survey says: IT WAS ALL A LIE
Good or bad, chances are you’ve been taught some lies.
Whether it was the idea of working until you die or the belief that you wouldn’t be able to have babies after 30 so you need to be married by 25, most of the lives we’re told are based on what other people want from us or for us. And it takes away our choice to make an informed decision. How could I possibly consider any other option if I’ve been convinced that the “right way” can only be one way?
On this blog, I’m going to be sharing lots of useful resources and tips – but I’m also going to be ranting.. this is my safe space and hopefully you can relate.
Let me step onto my soapbox by saying: Sallie Mae was one of the biggest scams
I know so many girls I went to school with who ended up getting into beauty or fashion as entrepreneurs and never even using their degrees. The majority of them were told that they needed to go to college to “have a real career” so they went to school, and accumulated a bunch of debt for an unnecessary degree. Now, don’t get me wrong – I am not anti-college, but there definitely needs to be more conversation around choices. When I was in high school, the college track was the only option. The technical track had been removed and trade schools are damn near non-existent. We’re doing ourselves such a disservice by going into debt, especially in fields that will never pay you a salary comparable to the cost of your degree. I know teachers who have 4-figure Sallie Mae payments and a social worker whose wages are being garnished because of her student loans! That is absolutely outrageous.
The financial aid folks signed off on all that money and the schools (at least mine) didn’t provide any real career counseling to explain the cost of your degree versus your salary – as a teacher, my paycheck did not ever support those loan payments.
I do have a quick plug for anyone struggling with their student loans, my girl Sonia aka The Student Loan Doctor assisted me with mine so I share her whenever I can!!!
I often think about what my stance will be on my children attending school and I am honestly torn. I had the time of my life at Tennessee State and I wouldn’t want to trade it. So I would feel some type of way taking that away from my kids. I definitely feel like college is an irreplaceable experience (doing it the traditional way: living on campus, especially at an HBCU!) but I don’t think it’s a recipe or requirement for success. I am absolutely not paying for a degree and they won’t be going in debt for one either, so if they can make something shake, I’m all for it lol! Scholarships are the name of the game! I went to school on a full scholarship because I was focused and intentional, even back then, about what I wanted. So with me as their mama, there’s no way they shouldn’t be able to do it too. If I’m honest, my only real requirement for them would be to choose an HBCU. I value the experience they’ll get living and breathing black excellence over the degree they earn that they may not need.
Sidenote: We are currently paying college tuition (actually more!) for our 2-year-old’s Montessori!!! We pay $1990, provide lunch and pickup is at 3:15! But that’s going to be a whole post because whew!!!! These childcare costs are ridiculous!
If you’re wondering how I racked up $89,000 in student loan debt with a full ride to college, it’s because my fool self went and got a Master’s degree thinking it would mean more money.
Survey said : THAT WAS A LIE
I racked up all that debt and literally got a $400 increase per month. If only you knew the rage I felt in my soul when I got that first check!!!!! That is why I am actually pretty anti-Masters degrees unless the math makes sense! If your career path does not support you paying for that degree, please don’t do it. Please don’t go back to school because you’re bored. There are so many other productive things you can do and skills you can attain that won’t put you in debt. Literally one of the worst decisions I’ve made.
Anyway, you know the moral of the story: They be lying. They lied about everything.
Listen to this classic Confessions of a WERKaholic podcast episode to learn more about how you can stop stressing about your student loan debt.
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