“I am 22 years old. I am a college student and will be receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology with a concentration in Human Services. I came for a small town that was built on Furniture Factories. Both of my parents dropped out of high school to work in those factories. My parents are divorced and I have three sisters, ages 18, 20, and 24. My father was laid off from a high supervising position when the factories in our town closed down. He took job opportunities when he could, but most were only temporary and he would be let go once the work was done. He is now unemployed. The job opportunities are very scarce in our town. My oldest sister dropped out of the UNC Chapel Hill, at the age of 18, and moved back home because she got pregnant. My younger sister, age 20, also got pregnant at the age of 18. I never considered anything but college because college was the only way for me. I have worked since I was 15 years old at various jobs, not because my parents told me to, but because I knew if I wanted anything I would be the one to pay for it. I do not feel entitled to anything that I have not earned. I pay my own bills, without any help from my parents even though they would do as much as they could to help me if I asked them. I consider myself an adult and feel that those are my responsibilities not my parents. Once I graduate I plan to take any job I can get with no complaints because in this economy you cannot be picky.
Once I graduate I will owe 18K in student loans.
I will be the first out of my family to finish college.
I am the 53%. “
She’s going to be pretty surprised when she gets out of college and finds out that “any job she can get” isn’t going to make her student loan payments.
Also? Yet another member of the 53% who is actually one of the 47%.