Ya know. despite my best efforts I still graduated with school debt.
In undergrad I financed a double major in 2.5 years with study abroad. I did this at Christopher Newport University. I still graduated with 17K USD in school debt. I was taking 21-27 hours every semestre to finish faster and maximise flat fee tuition that was charged my university. I worked part time, lived at home 1 year, and lived on campus for "free" as an RA the second year. I paid $500 USD for my car and drove it for 4.5 years. I didn't spend a lot of money. I was FRUGAL to say the least. I didn't have a mobile phone at all until I graduated. It was rather austere. I chose a grad school where tuition was cheaper than my undergrad (if that is even possible), and I created value in exchange for every subsidy I got from "The Church" (I went to law school at Brigham Young University).
@ grad school The cost of living was about 20K / year. The university under reported it at 11K USD per year. That was lie. I could have done it about 5K per year cheaper but I refused to share a bedroom with another student and I had to rent a flat that was away from campus, and gay friendly. Moreover I had to do unpaid externships for credits because I needed the credits to graduate early so as not to rack up more school debt, nor be kicked out of school for being gay. That was a constant fear that I lived under at BYU. I did law school in 2.5 years to mitigate those issues.
I worked in the summers to pay my living expenses in the school year. The summer before starting grad school, I was a stripper. The first summer, I did an unpaid externship for school credit, and worked for the church saving them about 100Xs the value of my tuition and mission subsidies. I also did summer sales that year and earned enough to pay my entire second year's living expenses, but the company I worked for folded and stuck me for nearly 25K USD. I got 2K out of them. In all honestly I should have gone back to stripping. It paid well, paid cash every night, and paid better than any other job I had had prior.
The second summer I did another unpaid externship, and worked for BYU. a LOW paying job, it barely covered gas money, and I really needed a 3rd job. I just didn't have the time for it as my externships were paramount to graduating early.
I busted ass, And through it all was dealing with the emotional baggage of "coming out." That is A LOT to place on someone. But I managed it. And I'm NOT complaining about it. It was a great experience and a GREAT education.
Despite my best efforts however, I still walked with 86K in combined undergrad and graduate debt. That's A LOT OF MONEY! And its not cause I was sitting on my laurels. I had scholarships, pell grants, work, etc. AND I was living below my means, and I was making it. I had a great time, and it was a good experience so I'm not complaining. I even saved back money in an emergency fund.
I totally can sympathise with this kid. . Had I not been screwed by the summer sales company, and one other employer who fired me from a 6 figure job for being gay, Id have had all my school debts paid off in the first year after college. I busted ASS and did everything right, and I STILL GOT SCREWED. .
AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES ME PART OF THE 99%!
