Student Loans Put in Perspective

This is just outside of Nelson, British Columbia- my most recent perching place. The view is from the top of some of the local mountain bike trails. Oh how I can’t wait to get out on ’em!

This is on my run...down some trail, for some distance, in some time-I was just runnin'... but I'd have to trade that kinda run for school. — Down some trail, for some distance, in some time. I was just running, because running provides me with a sense of well-being ..

I am still registered for school this Fall, even though I am not going. But Mama always told me to have a backup plan, so this is it. A part of that also means that I am working to get my student line of credit in order.

With that though, came some comic relief for a girl like myself. Let me tell you about it….

I inquired about online courses, to those people that hand me a debt, so I can go be like everybody else (okay, that’s conceded but what does school make us? Really?)…

Anyway, as I was trying to talk to this “student financial advisor” about my possibilities, she neglected me a way to pay for online courses right off the bat. Pretty much, I needed to have done that three months ago if I were to have had a chance at getting funded for Athabasca University. (This is only a fact from a long list of struggles I’ve had with OSAP).

Instead, the lady tried to convince me that, “I was approved of $13,000 if I went back to the UofL, and that that would be a good avenue to take,” … There were a lot of nitty gritty details in these two paragraphs; fill them in with something that you’re familiar with and it’ll all make sense (OSAP is the Ontario Student Assistance Plan).

$13,000 eh!? Well that’s a lot of moula for a girl with my kind of lifestyle! I mean, I’m surviving on my last $100 as we speak… But $13K! I could travel across the world and live there a few years with that kind of money. Or I could keep on haulin’ the van around North America: climb some mountains, run through the backcountry, go on walks through the forest for weeks at a time?

Oh the things I could do with all of that money! And I could do it for YEARS. (Okay, I won’t exaggerate, I’d probably last two years out there. Still though, the difference is incredible).

But $13,000 (plus all the interest that the loan would accumulate, *eye roll*), it will barely cover my expenses for 8 months at university. It most definitely doesn’t cover the basics- rent, tuition, and food for the school year- I know that from experience.

Sure, that loan will give me another year of school for the track record; but I won’t walk out with anything after that $13,000… It’ll still take me another $30-40K before I get anything for it.

And what will I get for $50,000+? Why a magnificent piece of paper! (How special would that make me? In a world where everyone else has got one too!? Oh, man!)

Formal education most definitely has it’s value- listening to non-science people talk science, hurts my soul- and I’ve only made it through the introductory level courses thus far. But putting things into perspective, is that sort of price worth it? I can learn all the same stuff for free online, going to professional talks, and other learning options. What about everything else there is to offer in the world?

What would you do with $50,000?

My parents brought me up to appreciate family, love, and all that mushy gushy stuff; I’d start with visiting them more than once a year. Then I’d throw a dart at a map and buy a plane ticket for wherever that dart landed- and perhaps a travel pass around that continent too. I’d go there, learn about indigenous ways (because I think that is something important to learn about). I’d register for free online courses, because I wouldn’t want to fall short of the academic bandwagon either. And I’d rock climb, because that shiz is cool man… Maybe I’d finally get around to learning to skydive too. Why not right? I’ve got $50,000 ,and living minimally (as in homeless), that’s a solid 5 years out in the world. I could sacrifice one for some excess adventures.