Kristen Pickett

I was the first one.

I was the first one.

I was the first one.

Middle of my freshman year, I was pulled into the financial aid office with this, either you take loans or you can't go to school anymore. So I took the loans and in my head, you know, early 2000s, it was like, oh, you're going to graduate and have this great job. And so I'm thinking, if it's like $500 a month, that won't be a big deal, right?

Middle of my freshman year, I was pulled into the financial aid office with this, either you take loans or you can't go to school anymore. So I took the loans and in my head, you know, early 2000s, it was like, oh, you're going to graduate and have this great job. And so I'm thinking, if it's like $500 a month, that won't be a big deal, right?

Middle of my freshman year, I was pulled into the financial aid office with this, either you take loans or you can't go to school anymore. So I took the loans and in my head, you know, early 2000s, it was like, oh, you're going to graduate and have this great job. And so I'm thinking, if it's like $500 a month, that won't be a big deal, right?

I thought that in the end it would move me forward and advance me in my, you know, in my pay it would be some kind of difference. But it wasn't.

I thought that in the end it would move me forward and advance me in my, you know, in my pay it would be some kind of difference. But it wasn't.

I thought that in the end it would move me forward and advance me in my, you know, in my pay it would be some kind of difference. But it wasn't.

I remember when I got my first job as a professor in 2008 and I had like an adult job with adult pay. Like that was the best pay I had had. I remember I went to get a car and my uncle had to co-sign because I had this huge student loan debt.

I remember when I got my first job as a professor in 2008 and I had like an adult job with adult pay. Like that was the best pay I had had. I remember I went to get a car and my uncle had to co-sign because I had this huge student loan debt.

I remember when I got my first job as a professor in 2008 and I had like an adult job with adult pay. Like that was the best pay I had had. I remember I went to get a car and my uncle had to co-sign because I had this huge student loan debt.

Did you take advantage of that pause? I did. My partner and I discussed it and we decided like it was a good thing for me to not pay them during the pause because I was able to do things I hadn't been able to do, like pay my car off and get ahead on medical bills, like things that I wouldn't have had the ability. So I took advantage of it.

Did you take advantage of that pause? I did. My partner and I discussed it and we decided like it was a good thing for me to not pay them during the pause because I was able to do things I hadn't been able to do, like pay my car off and get ahead on medical bills, like things that I wouldn't have had the ability. So I took advantage of it.

Did you take advantage of that pause? I did. My partner and I discussed it and we decided like it was a good thing for me to not pay them during the pause because I was able to do things I hadn't been able to do, like pay my car off and get ahead on medical bills, like things that I wouldn't have had the ability. So I took advantage of it.

I felt like I actually was an adult with an ability to take care of things.

I felt like I actually was an adult with an ability to take care of things.

I felt like I actually was an adult with an ability to take care of things.

But it just felt good to be able to be like, okay, my car payment's usually $250, and because I'm not paying student loans, I'm going to pay $500 on it. So I paid my car off much faster. And... We were able to leave the state and buy a house and do things that like... You're like living your life. Yeah, at almost 40 years old, it was a great feeling.

But it just felt good to be able to be like, okay, my car payment's usually $250, and because I'm not paying student loans, I'm going to pay $500 on it. So I paid my car off much faster. And... We were able to leave the state and buy a house and do things that like... You're like living your life. Yeah, at almost 40 years old, it was a great feeling.