I’m a 29-Year-Old With $235k in Student Debt. I’ll Never Pay It Back.

Don’t count on bankruptcy court balancing out those who “need” to have loans forgiven. The only person I know IRL who successfully used that games all of the systems from unemployment to churches. She tells such a woe filled story and it convinces many to give her things (a car, free housing, etc) until places like churches catch on - then she just moves on to the next person - usually met on the internet. Currently she’s hoping for an $80,000 windfall from another “game,” post bankruptcy of course so she can keep it all instead of paying off any debts. Those of us who know her and the whole situation hope she loses, but she might not. If she were totally typical of those who receive benefits every last working person would be against them (or at least I hope they would).

But I also see the other side at school. There are more who truly need things than those who game the systems IME. Then there are the kids who drew bad birth lottery positions. I’m all for giving them a chance too. They have a ton stacked against them from birth. A few make it anyway, but most do not. No money causing lack of opportunities all along the journey is a big factor.

There is no system at all that is perfect. It doesn’t mean those systems aren’t worth it.