This is part three in a series of quick reads from people who's lives have been ruined by their student loans. You can see more at www.studentloanjustice.org.
Also, we just started the Student Loan Justice PAC.
Name Witheld (Maryland)
I am writing to tell my sister's story. She is no longer with us...She took her life a year ago.
My sister was the first in our family to attend college. She graduated from Johns Hopkins University and did really well for awhile. In her early 30s, she became ill (breast cancer) and was unable to work. I am not sure how she was paying her loans, but I know the student loan representatives were hounding her. I spoke with several on her behalf and little if anything was ever accomplished.
My sister was out of work for a very long time as "chemo" made her very ill. She was repeatedly called by student loan representatives even when told how ill she was.
I do not want to go into a great deal of detail, but I will say that my sister took her life as she said she simply did not want to live anymore. What is interesting is that my sister was not terminally ill. Her cancer was in stage 2...and her prognosis were very good. What ultimately led to my sister's death is the way she was repeatedly hounded by collection agencies regarding her student loans. I wrote to a Maryland Senator myself and stated that something has to be done about this. People are being penalized for going after their dreams of becoming educated. Does anyone else see something wrong with this picture?
My sister's life has been an inspiration to me. I have decided to go back to school. I promised her that I would not obtain any student loans...I am doing it the old fashion way....I am working 3 jobs to finance my education. I will be somewhere in my early 40s when I finish, but at least I won't have to be concerned about being literally worried to death over student loans....
Richard
I was admitted to one of the top 14 law schools in the country. And while I did well there I was forced to take out $150,000 in student loans. I know that is a lot of money but I figured this is prestigious, I can get a job making six figures. 2 years after graduation I was still unemployed (I had above average grades but I for some reason no one wanted to hire me). While collection notices came in I just ignored them, figuring the government would have some program for those of us who couldn't afford these extortionate rates. I filed for bankruptcy (which got rid of my 50,000 of credit card debt) which did nothing to stop the loan officers from the DoE. As it stands now I owe 412,329.57 (they expect monthly payments of nearly 4,000) and I am still unable to find a job. I am screwed, I think I will probably kill myself.