Like most of Americans living with student loan debt, now, over 20 years, I initially wished this topic of “forgiveness” never garnered so much political and media attention in the negative way in which it has after Bidens’ inauguration.
When I was first accepted into an out of state university, way back near the mid 90s, costs to attend four year schools begin to sky rocket all over the country, only made worse with repeated published estimates on “school expenses” like books and other college necessities (like mature school supplies, computer laptop, internet service plus online protection and a cellphone) being excluded or misquoted from al each readily available ‘college students proposed budgets’, neither timely or then later and on every level. Completing, better yet graduating from Community Colleges wasn’t popular nor trending at all at the time, yet finishing all of my lower division coursework i.e. all general education and prerequisites seemed like the right idea at the time at one of my local jr. Colleges and since I worked at least part-time throughout those years except during Summers, plus Winter and Spring breaks I was able to work full-time at a little over $15 an hour, which was pretty good back then however not so good in my native California where recent law was all driver’s needed to have basic insurance behind the wheel. So as a first time legal driver at 18, I had my first monthly bill of close $100 right outta high school.
Right about smack dab in the middle of my junior college matriculation, all fees to attend our junior colleges went up here, although they were kinda slow to take full effect, ultimately all things on campus were more expensive within the next couple of school years. By then, I was no longer making over $15 an hour but only $10, plus my job was open 12 hours on Fridays and 10 on Saturdays so I had fully packed school as well as working weeks all the way up to my graduation, which was after the turn of the century in 2001 and of course I received my first Student loan bill for $36,000 before even landing my first job interview, a couple months after earning my Bachelor’s degree.
I have &/or had every intention of sincerely paying back my student loans, feeling wholehearted about my college and university experiences being rewarding and just however even with the best jobs in my state I’ve had in the best industries, never really produced the earnings for paying them consistently not consecutive years without going into default by accident, overly stressing here in California about no real career and that’s still been in positions with the U.S. government (task force only), international fashion manufacturing as well as union worker with TV & Film industry.

So to, “The College Investor.com” I thank you for publishing this much needed article this Election week, for finally -concretely updating us on what still remains as 1 of the biggest factors in our economic recovery post-pandemic and the whole of Biden’s presidency. My sincere appreciation to both the author Mark and editor Robert, for staying committed to the gravity of this topic, not forgetting the importance to each American individual who’s entire lives are affected by the daily reality of student loan debt.