We all huddled criss-cross (applesauce) so no one would be excluded from a spot on the vibrantly loud carpet that shielded us from the cold tiled floor. My sweatervest-loving kindergarten teacher always insisted that we gather here for important discussions. “Okay class, do you know what I do?” Eagerly, we all raised our hands, begging for a chance to speak before adolescent classroom anxiety kicked in. “Teacher! You’re a teacher!” Some confidently blurted out. She smiled as she confirmed our suspicions. “Now, although you are all in kindergarten now, one day you will be out in the world doing amazing things! What kind of amazing things do you want to do?” My classmates and I roared out our answers: “Astronaut!”, “Doctor!”, “Superhero!”, “Vet!” The list went on as we grew more excited with the prospect of being grown-ups and getting to work big-kid jobs. Eventually, the teacher found our attention through a wave of her hand, and as we settled down, all she said was: “You can do anything your heart desires. Don’t ever forget that.” And I never did; especially now, as I sit at my desk staring at my impertinent loans that dare me to quit.
The combined amount of student debt in the U.S. as of 2024 racks up to over $1.7 trillion, according to an article written by Melanie Hanson for The Education Data Initiative. The same article also states: “The average federal student loan debt balance is $38,375, while the total average balance (including private loan debt) may be as high as $41,520.” The fact that it is a privilege to have the opportunity for higher education in a country where “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are our inalienable rights, is lopsided. Higher education should be accessible for all U.S. citizens, and student debt needs to have a cap to keep young adults from being strapped with an insane amount of baggage as they start their lives.
An article by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBA) also outlined the financial burdens students and their families commit to: “Sixty-eight percent of students say it is a struggle for them or their family members to pay for their education. Students say the biggest pain point is tuition (46%), followed by technology/laptops (21%) and books/course materials (17%)… nearly half (46%) have $250 or less left after paying for education costs each month. Fourteen percent of students have only $100 or less left each month after paying expenses.” Higher education is a worthy investment for those who want to earn a degree; however, the cost of this investment has become so enormous that many do not have the ability to pursue it.
There is nothing quite like being a kid and having the world at your fingertips. It’s fun and easy to imagine yourself living in a billion-dollar mansion and having your dream job. At that time, life’s harsh, cold tiles were covered up by softly laid carpets with enough room for all of us to sit on. But as time grows older with us, the idea of becoming whatever you want to be warps into a sick joke, especially for those who are unable to attend university due to the financial burdens of loans. We are not little kids who automatically have a place set for us on a gentle carpet; instead, we have to make a place for ourselves. However, the difficulty in this has nothing to do with the desire to seek out higher education, but has everything to do with the materials we are given. This is why higher education should be more financially accessible. When we open up the possibilities for more to have the opportunity to go to university, we will help open doors to a better educated society with citizens who are able to strive for the pursuit of happiness and their American dream.
Photo courtesy of Carpets for Kids.
Making a place on the carpet
We all huddled criss-cross (applesauce) so no one would be excluded from a spot on the vibrantly loud carpet that shielded us from the cold tiled floor. My sweatervest-loving kindergarten teacher always insisted that we gather here for important discussions. “Okay class, do you know what I do?” Eagerly, we all raised our hands, begging for a chance to speak before adolescent classroom anxiety kicked in. “Teacher! You’re a teacher!” Some confidently blurted out. She smiled as she confirmed our suspicions. “Now, although you are all in kindergarten now, one day you will be out in the world doing amazing things! What kind of amazing things do you want to do?” My classmates and I roared out our answers: “Astronaut!”, “Doctor!”, “Superhero!”, “Vet!” The list went on as we grew more excited with the prospect of being grown-ups and getting to work big-kid jobs. Eventually, the teacher found our attention through a wave of her hand, and as we settled down, all she said was: “You can do anything your heart desires. Don’t ever forget that.” And I never did; especially now, as I sit at my desk staring at my impertinent loans that dare me to quit.
The combined amount of student debt in the U.S. as of 2024 racks up to over $1.7 trillion, according to an article written by Melanie Hanson for The Education Data Initiative. The same article also states: “The average federal student loan debt balance is $38,375, while the total average balance (including private loan debt) may be as high as $41,520.” The fact that it is a privilege to have the opportunity for higher education in a country where “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” are our inalienable rights, is lopsided. Higher education should be accessible for all U.S. citizens, and student debt needs to have a cap to keep young adults from being strapped with an insane amount of baggage as they start their lives.
An article by the New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBA) also outlined the financial burdens students and their families commit to: “Sixty-eight percent of students say it is a struggle for them or their family members to pay for their education. Students say the biggest pain point is tuition (46%), followed by technology/laptops (21%) and books/course materials (17%)… nearly half (46%) have $250 or less left after paying for education costs each month. Fourteen percent of students have only $100 or less left each month after paying expenses.” Higher education is a worthy investment for those who want to earn a degree; however, the cost of this investment has become so enormous that many do not have the ability to pursue it.
There is nothing quite like being a kid and having the world at your fingertips. It’s fun and easy to imagine yourself living in a billion-dollar mansion and having your dream job. At that time, life’s harsh, cold tiles were covered up by softly laid carpets with enough room for all of us to sit on. But as time grows older with us, the idea of becoming whatever you want to be warps into a sick joke, especially for those who are unable to attend university due to the financial burdens of loans. We are not little kids who automatically have a place set for us on a gentle carpet; instead, we have to make a place for ourselves. However, the difficulty in this has nothing to do with the desire to seek out higher education, but has everything to do with the materials we are given. This is why higher education should be more financially accessible. When we open up the possibilities for more to have the opportunity to go to university, we will help open doors to a better educated society with citizens who are able to strive for the pursuit of happiness and their American dream.
Rohingya people displaced and threatened in their own country
Photo courtesy of Carpets for Kids.