The baby boomer generation may have been the last generation to pay for college education the old fashioned way—by working for it.
My parents made it clear if I wanted an education, I could pay for it. Although they paid for my freshman year, I paid for everything thereafter. I started working at age fifteen and worked every summer and Christmas season from then on and saved what I earned for college. After two years at MTSU, I moved to Memphis to work for a year before returning to Memphis State University (now Memphis University). By then, I worked full-time and attended school at night. It took six years to earn the bachelors degree because I had to work during the day and attend school at night.
I continued the process, both work and school, ultimately earning a master’s degree in psychology and then a doctorate from Vanderbilt.
No one was standing along the way with a handout for tuition. It was work by day and go to school at night for a total of about ten years.
I came out of it with no school debt and determination and grit. I learned a valuable life lesson, that is, I had to work and earn my way.
In retrospect my parents gave me a gift requiring that I pay for my education. The gift of a solid work ethic.
What has become of the concept of working for what we want? Is the burden of student loan debt really a viable option? We now have certain so-called “progressive” politicians proposing to “forgive” student loan debt, effectively transferring the debt burden to hard working taxpayers.
Give me a break! Is this progressive or is it the “progression of regression?”
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I understand what you are saying, but the world is not as simply as it was when we were young. I managed to spend time in the US Navy, earning about $200/month. The greatest benefit was the GI Bill which provided about $2000 per year. Working weekends and holidays I managed to get a BS in engineering and bought a new Ford Bronco my senior year. The engineering degree really paid off and I’m still working as a part time consultant. That said, I cannot agree that most young adults can now go to college and pay for it as they attend. If you check the cost of living and cost of college vs the increase in salary/wages since 1970 you can see the problem. I think a solution is for fewer people to get college degrees and only get solid degrees that will pay back the costs. However, universities have become business so this would affect their cash flow so the fewer degrees would only cost more. The US is becoming more like a third world country dominated by the greed of the upper class and the lower end of the spectrum, most of whom would love to have a good job and make their was are struggling more each year to keep up. Please check out some cost of living and cost for college figures and think about a solution to this growing problem
HI Ed,
I wrote a fairly lengthy response to your email, but it was kicked back for some reason. I will try again. Thank you for reading my posts and sending the comment. My point is I think it is ridiculous to expect others to pay for student debt if they aren’t willing to work to pay for it themselves. Young people work 25 hours a week and think they have done something. They can work 60-hours a week like most of us did which would go a long way to pay their way. Life was much easier in the 70’s than now in many ways, but no one was giving most of us a free ride. Thanks so much for your service in the military. I appreciate your comments. Always feel free to contact me.
Brenda