x-sender: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com x-receiver: governor.haley@sc.lmhostediq.com Received: from mail pickup service by IQ12 with Microsoft SMTPSVC; Wed, 7 Oct 2015 02:42:31 -0400 thread-index: AdEAy1b/Po5vGWG8RfyCjM2NR3RSdA== Thread-Topic: Student Loans From: To: Subject: Student Loans Date: Wed, 7 Oct 2015 02:42:30 -0400 Message-ID: <00DF7A5438B445079C1D6DC2DD0528CE@IQ12> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: Microsoft CDO for Windows 2000 Content-Class: urn:content-classes:message Importance: normal Priority: normal X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.1.7601.17609 X-OriginalArrivalTime: 07 Oct 2015 06:42:31.0076 (UTC) FILETIME=[57237E40:01D100CB] CUSTOM Mrs. Melanie A Nichols Family Nurse Practitioner 8562 Royal Palm Lane North Charlestons SC 29420 coulterm90@yahoo.com ECON Student Loans 71.68.228.192 Here is the problem. In order to have a successful career in America, one must go to college. and college is EXPENSIVE. Yes, there are "scholarships", but "scholarships" are not exactly for everyone. Even if you graduate in the top of your class, play sports well, and participate in charity work you may not qualify for much. You must be THE top of the class, a stellar athlete (even if you are making below average grades), or be in charge of EVERY charitable event in your town. If not, you likely don't qualify. Some may qualify based on income, but if you are middle class.forget it! So, lets just go back to college is EXPENSIVE. Luckily, the problem gets worse. You struggle constantly to keep your grades up, maintain some kind of relationship with family and friends, and work. Easy right? In college you work as much as you can and still you eat off the dollar menu. But, in your mind it won't be forever. Why? Because your "dream job" has a much better income, which will allow you to eat at fancy restaurants, buy a home with more than one bathroom, and have a family. When you finally finish college, the financially struggle will be over. WRONG. It just begins. After college..WHAM! Your student loan payments begin to rear their ugly head. BUT, you also have a mortgage payment for that house with more than one bathroom, and you still can't afford a meal from anything but the dollar menu. So, you get a bright idea. Why not go back to college for your masters? That will land you a pay increase and allow you to truly get a "dream job". What you didn't figure in was the substantial accumulation of DEBT. So, now here I am living the American dream with a student loan payment of $730 a month working in public health. In case you didn't know, public health pays terribly. Why do it? Because it is rewarding! However, when you combine all your student loan debt, your mortgage payment, bills, and day care. I am still eating of the dollar menu like the poor college freshmen I once was. Honestly, after all of my bills I have a whooping $200 to spare, which goes to gas and groceries. But wait! Relief is in sight! There is a student loan forgiveness program for public health workers. All you have to do is work for 10 years and pay your loans monthly. You cannot make reduced payments during this 10 years or it will not count. The standard repayment period is 10 years. In short, after 10 years your loans will be paid off. What kind of forgiveness is that? So what I do I suggest? Win the lottery, be born into a rich family, find a job that pays 6 figures that does not require college (good luck with that), or work a minimum wage job and apply for government assistance. The government cannot help you pay of your student loans you acquired to better yourself and the country. Yet, they can pay people to sit home and watch Netflix, while working a part time, minimum wage job. I suggest the government and colleges WAKE UP! Help us who help ourselves, which is helping this country prosper! I work for the state and provide care to underserved populations. I make a difference. BUT I cannot afford to make a difference. Please realize what this debt is doing to hard working citizens. If we don't have money to spare, WE ARE NOT SPENDING. Help us, HELP YOU or you will see greater economic decline. Sincerely, Melanie Nichols Family Nurse Practitioner