this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2023
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I graduated college in 2022 with an electrical engineering degree and $0 in debt as I worked through it.
You experiencing the exception to the rule doesn't mean the rule doesn't apply to most everyone else.
It’s not a rule though, it’s working through the degree and being smart about your choices. My parents funded none of my college except meals because I ate at home
Lots of jobs will pay for a degree.
I didn't "experience" the exception, I worked to be the exception.
I'll be the first to admit that I did have some privilege in the fact that I lived with my parents the first 2 years.
But I worked hard to maintain grades so I could maintain scholarships that covered tuition.
I worked most nights during the week so that I could afford to pay for any other expense I had. Books, fees, transportation.
This isn't just a matter of experiencing this situation, I made sacrifices to make it work
My boyfriend literally worked full time through his entire time in college which only covered rent, food, bare necessities, nothing leftover to cover books or tuition. He graduated magna cum laude, straight A student but he didn't get any scholarships. Stayed up till 1 or 2 working at restaurants all week, woke up for 9am classes, both of which he had to bike to because he didn't live on campus or at home like you.
You did experience the exception. Plenty of people make just as many and * way more* sacrifices than you and it doesn't get them nearly as far.
I applaud you, I really do. You've shown an awareness of the world as it is that many young people don't seem to have; even as they've been inundated with information that might inform them that THIS IS A TRAP!
I don't fault them, though, because much of that inundation also tells them that if they just 'apply here for $$' they'll be fine and as a kid I know which truth I'd like to believe. My own husband, who is frighteningly bright at all matters other than finance, fell for those same lies.
The truth is that a parent needs to help their kids navigate the "D&D full of monsters dungeon" to take advantage of the build that makes one successful... and while it can be done it's just 'nightmare difficulty'. If you can play through this, the rest of life gets a hell of a lot easier.
If you can't, you're gonna have to rely on politicians to 'make things right'. What's the likelihood of that in this day and age?
@Gingeybook I'd like to posit that you could profit from educating others. Just throwing that out there.
We can't all be doctors, lawyers, engineers, and programmers. And if we all got those degrees companies would start lowering their wages because of the increased competition.
We need people to teach English, manage the environment, contribute to the arts, etc. Makes us a more well-rounded society.