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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