Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Dear Student Loan, I'm Leaving You

Dear Student Loan (aka ball & chain),

I'm sorry, but it's over.

Yes, I know that we've been together a long time, almost 15 years is no joke, but it really has been all about you, and I've had it. Not once did you ask me if I was okay leaving one job for a bartender's gig so I could be with you more often, not once did you ask if I really liked eating ramen all the time, or if I felt comfortable living near a crack house. Sure, you weren't the only relationship I had. I had others. Rent, phone, food. But you were the one that broke my heart, because you were the one that made me choose between feeding myself or clothing myself.

But to be fair, that was only in the beginning. The fact is I just got with you before I was ready, and after a few years we settled in quite comfortably together. We always knew we had each other no matter what and it was an habitual co-existence. But then I found that oppressive. I wanted my independence, a life without you, and so I left you. It wasn't my most shining moment but I just didn't know what to do, and I guess I should have written or called, but I just left you without a word.

A few years later I came back, tail between my leg, and man did you make me pay for it! But it was for the best. I learned a lot from that breakup and makeup, and it helped my other relationships, particularly that brief fling I had with Providian. And even though I'm leaving you, know that I don't regret what we had together. I had a phenomenal four year education because of you. It's not that I don't love what you've done for me, it's just how you've done it. But again, it's not your fault. I could blame it on your parents, but they change every four years. No wonder you're messed up.

But I have to be honest with you-- you have a tendency to take advantange of people, and this is the real reason I'm leaving you. I'm sure you won't even miss me when I'm gone, someone else will take my place, but you should really learn to treat people better. Right now you've got it good and you can act however you want to, but someday, someday soon I hope, you're not going to be the only one. I know, I know, you think Grant isn't even the same league as you, but she's got your number, and you better start acting like you know.

It never bothered me that you've been with millions of others, but you take advantage where there should be none taken. Again, it's not your fault, it's how you were raised. I'm just telling you this now because you have a lot to offer people, if only you'd stand up for yourself and do what you were meant to do.

Make no mistake about it, it's not merely that I was unprepared when I went into this relationship to handle the responsibility of being with you. It's that you are not prepared to handle the responsibility you have with us. And now, I cannot believe it took me this long to leave you. If only I knew then what I know now. So goodbye Sallie Mae, or Nellie Mae, or Chase, or whatever you're calling yourself now. It's over, and I can honestly say that in this case, the grass is greener on the other side.

No Longer Yours Forever,

PiggyBankBlues

13 comments:

English Major said...

VICTORY!

Congratulations! It's always great to kick a loser to the curb.

PiggyBankBlues said...

thanks :)

victory, indeed!

Anonymous said...

Ask yourself, where would you be today if Sallie had not loaned you the money to pursue an education?
If your answer is "excactly where I am today", then you made a poor economical decision, my friend. I do not agre with the US educational system. In fact, I think that access to free education is a human right and this nation is way over its head trying to sell people on the the "values" this country has to offer. The US is corrupt and Americans rob their neighbors to get ahead.
However, we chose top be here, after all we are free. We need to play the best hand with the cards we have been dealt.
Since when is it unfair that you pay for what you want? Why don't you move to Europe, enjoy a sound and stable social network, free education and subsidized healthcare. You'd still be paying for it. In taxes.

You have to pay for what you want. Education, Car, Mortgage, Vacation, Children, Church, Healthcare, Dignity at an old age, New life and Death all come at a price.

I have read so many blogs about people crying about their student loans, I have not read a single one about someone complaining about their mortgage lender or car loan.

A kid who is unable to make a financially sound decision about their education, course of study and peospective job opportunities should not yet go to college.

PiggyBankBlues said...

anonymous-

thanks for your comments. i should point out that i did thank my student loan for being there for me (for exactly the reasons of your opening question!) several times during the post.

i suppose an "open letter" to an inanimate object is a little opaque regarding my opinion about the student loan industry at large, but i share very little of your sentiments. i surely do not expect to be fiscally without responsibilty towards anything i should want, it would kind of defeat the purpose of my blog!!

i suspect we diverge on what you may mean by "playing the best hand you are dealt with"-- in a democracy such things are not a given, they are up for open debate and political process. i do not know anyone "crying" about their student loan(s) on their blogs, or any other infantilizing what-have-yous, but certainly i, and many others, openly debate the merits of our current government's handling of student loans. and you really needn't dig to deep to find the same debate about the current situation with mortgages.

contrary to what you may believe, i certainly don't think that higher education is a privilege. while college is a professional pursuit, it is also first and foremost an intellectual pursuit. it doesn't require hard and fast decisions to justify. in fact, i'm sure it is just as rewarding, if not moreso, an experience for those who are still figuring out what, at age eighteen, they are going to do with the rest of their life.

and lastly, thanks for kicking me out to europe, but i'd rather roll naked in pâté on a sheet of belgian ice. dissent is, after all, one of the first trademarks of this country. so i'm quite fine here, thank you.

i hope you find pf blogs out there that embrace financial responsibility in ways you can relate to. i know i certainly blow hours of my life learning from them :)

PiggyBankBlues said...

oops- i just checked my sitemeter. anonymous is from sallie mae. wow, that's kind of crazy.

i wonder if that's somebody's job just to cruise around blogs looking for mention of their name and then post comments? or maybe they just work there and this is what they do on their lunch break?

Anonymous said...

I know other sites do that kind of thing. There's one which will apparently read your whole blog if you mention them. :)

And on the student loans front---congrats on your divorce!! ;)

PiggyBankBlues said...

thanks mrs micah :)

Ms. M&P said...

Whoa. Sallie didn't take the dumping well. I hope she doesn't cyberstalk you. Restraining order, maybe? Your student loan relationship is turning into a Lifetime movie...

Seriously, it must feel great to be done with this. A huge congratulations and a virtual martini is in order!

PiggyBankBlues said...

why just step right in to my virtual bar ;)

Anonymous said...

Big, Big congratulations! I kicked my (private) student loan out about 6 months ago - and it was a big one. It is such a relief to be free.
Funny, I never felt quite so anxious about my regulated, government Direct Loan.

mysticdomestica said...

Sallie Mae anon: You are so creepy.

PBB: Congratulations on breaking it off for good. Bad girls are really no good for you. ;]

PiggyBankBlues said...

thanks anon! and belated congrats on paying off your private loan. direct loan is great. of course i defaulted on mine and somehow it changed hands several times over...

mfa- yes, it took me years to learn, but indeed bad girls are no good for me (sheepish grin)

Payday said...

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