Lately I hear so many 30 year olds complaining about their college debt. It's not fair, they say. I shouldn't have to pay this much, they say. How am I supposed to survive?
All true and fair questions and we DO, as a nation, need to fix how we pay back those loans, so they DO get paid back and not defaulted on. HOWEVER...
I think the anger and frustration is misplaced. The cost of college is the real problem coupled with the idea that college is supposed to be fun.
The reality is... in America we don't take college seriously.
Think of how little loan you would have if you worked all the time you weren't in a class or studying.
How much would you save if you walked or biked where you needed to go?
What if you didn't go to bars or eat out, lived home, stayed at the dorms on the weekend instead of driving home and worked a job?
Would you have the debt you have now if your behavior in college was different?
WHAT IF YOU DIDN'T GO TO FOOTBALL GAMES FOR 50 BUCKS (D1) A TICKET?
We need to change our behavior as students.
Parents need to change their behavior as enablers. Your children are ADULTS when they go to college. Make sure you treat them that way. Make sure you let them fall and guide them on how to get up on their own. And make SURE, in their junior year of high school, you teach them about how much it costs to live and how to pay for it.
We need to change our mentality as consumers of college education as well. Demand good service, go to community college where it is cheap and transfer to an online four year, this will cause the state system and private schools like Penn State to lower tuition costs.
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So I don't get mugged at work or the grocery store I need to clarify MY position on the biggest school in MY state. MY blood is NOT blue...AND Penn State is state affiliated and NOT a state college so they get your tax dollars with little or no oversight from the state. Nor does anyone hold them accountable for their actions and I do NOT agree with my tax dollars being spent that way. This has nothing to do with football. I have always felt this way. Ok, moving on...
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Lastly, lobby for more realistic tuition costs. Complain when faculty union members refuse to bargain about their salary demands with the state. When college presidents make half a million dollars, live for free on campus, build unneccesary dorms or sports facilities, practically bankrupting the school and then move on when the financial shit hits the fan have your board of directors hold them accountable! ! And YOU teach your children to hold the board members accountable. They pay their salary.
Do colleges even teach their students how a college works? That should be a mandatory freshman class to empower the students.
Complain when the state ends up closing colleges in remote areas causing those kids to move or travel far distances to get an education.
People we are in crisis!
And some of it is our own fault.
Life is not a party, it's hard work that you have to pay for.
Those of you paying student loans need to change the system for your children and the future of our country. Change the culture. Start with YOUR child and YOURSELF!
And all of us need to be LOUD about it. It's our future.
