Nothing grinds my gears more than seeing "Sallie Mae" show up on my phone screen. As I decline yet another call from the now saved phone number as though I have a personal relationship with "her", I confirm that her (yes, I refer to Sallie, as though she is human) "gladiators" (If you watch Scandal, you'll know what I'm talking about) are ruthless individuals trained to do nothing but seize and destroy. I have managed to pay for forbearance for the last year since it is actually four times cheaper than the monthly amount due, and become extremely frustrated every time I am asked why I am requesting financial hardship. Why else does one request financial hardship? Hmmm.. I know!! Financial hardship maybe?!?!
The Wall Street Journal reported that student-loan debt rose 4.6% and is now higher than credit card debt. I am a part of the 4.6% that can't afford to make extremely unreasonable monthly payments because living costs too much and the economy is in the pits. It doesn't make it any better that organizations require more years of experience than the total amount of time that I've been alive and are not willing to let young adults in to demonstrate their abilities that can sometimes prove to more beneficial to the company than those with the years of experience that work there.
But of course, it doesn't stop there. I also have an autoimmune disease that requires frequent doctor visits, a copay, and an out of pocket maximum that has led to nearly $6,000 in medical bills in less than 2 years. Since I can't afford to keep up with ridiculous payment agreements, the medical bill army has also decided to compete with every other bill collector and calls from 8 am to 9 p.m, 5 days a week. I just can't catch a break!
What REALLY grinds my gears is that these heartless organizations are committed to accepting nothing less than 100% of the amount they ask for. I have asked thousands of representatives from Sallie Mae as well as collection agencies to accept what I have to give, and have been told that it is unacceptable. The audacity to refuse money! Why ask me what the minimum amount I can pay is, if you have already made up your mind that I need to pay YOUR minimum? Why offer to check if I qualify for financial assistance to tell me that I make too much money and don't qualify each time? (Which is interesting because I make too much money to afford loan repayment).
Yes, I did apply for the loans with every intention to repay them, but is it my fault that I crave higher education and couldn't afford it without aid? I unfortunately was not wearing my psychic cap and did not see my future of endless job searching when I was signing the loan term agreement. Did I ask for an autoimmune disease that sucks everything (emotionally, physically, and monetarily) out of me?
It's not that I don't plan on repaying the loans, it's that I need more time. I need time to find my dream career that will make a $1200 monthly payment look like chump change. I need the economy to improve and allow me the rite of passage into a corporation where I can grow and do what I love. I just need a chance. I will continue to exert patience, continue to pursue my passion, and hope that I will be given the opportunity to prove that I earned my degrees and WILL be an asset to the organization that hires me. Until then, Sallie Mae will have to wait in line with all the other sharks that want money that I don't have. After all, you can't get blood out of a stone.
Hey.... I'm not bitter. Not bitter at all. (Declining Sallie Mae once more).....
