Brace yourself, I’m about to discuss university debt, so be prepared for a long one, this is not a topic we can touch on briefly.
When I was applying for university there was no discussion of alternative plans. I come from an African household. University is the way, other options ke… why kwanu? As someone who had lived in eternal confusion about her future career plans, I didn’t oppose the idea, after all, it would buy me at least 3 years of thinking time. Somewhere along the lines, with confusion refusing to subside, my 3-year course extended itself because I needed further study and even more experience to help clear the clouds of confusion above my head. Guess what? It’s still raining here.
One day, a very random day, I decided to do some research into this so called university debt that everyone kept crying about. When I was doing my research, the numbers I saw on my screen literally left me sweating in immediate panic, on the verge of crying myself a river deep enough to drown in. How on earth had I managed to find myself in this position?
As tuition fees were raised back in 2012 and panic set in among EVERYONE else, I remained un-phased, because regardless of how much debt I incurred over the years of study, there was no plan B. But 6 months into undergraduate working life on a salary that was unusually high and still struggling to meet my basic needs (regular makeup purchases are included), realising that securing a graduate job that paid above the national average was not enough, simply made me want to give up. I could earn a figure that all my lecturers told me was a great starting point (I had never believed them anyway) and still spend nearly 50% of my entire life, almost 75% of my working life, repaying a debt for a degree I only bothered taking because I wanted to buy myself time. This takes first place for extravagant purchases!
So what about moving out of my parents’ home? What about buying my own car? What about the stacks and stacks of Louboutin shoes, YSL bags and Dior sunglasses? Where was that all going to come from? When I was 4 years old, my mother told me I needed to go to school, work hard, get a good job and then I could have the life I wanted. At no point did my mother mention the need for a sugar daddy or pole dancing lessons.
I was (and still am) investing so much in myself, for an education that caused me immense stress and almost ruined my health (there were many times I believed that the devil himself had created university, or at least my course), for a future that seemed as dark and gloomy as my current situation. NEPA had stolen the supposed light at the end of the tunnel.
*NEPA- Nigeria’s National Electrical Power Authority
What was the point?
I didn’t write all of this to scare you, but to motivate you, and hopefully try and convince myself that everything will work out just fine *smiles in disbelief*.
But on a serious note, it isn’t all over. We aren’t all doomed. Life isn’t a never-ending series of ‘L’s thanks to a British government run by the former elite Oxbridge students that don’t care about us. I can’t promise you that you will have a walk-in-wardrobe dripping with swagu, neither can I ensure that you have a wig collection that resembles that of Rihanna with Malaysian and Peruvian bundles flowing in every direction. But I can promise that things will be okay, and for now you’re just going to have to accept that okay is good enough. Soz b.
Here a few things you may want to consider:
- Savings plans
- Living outside of the capital
- Read about this impossible possibility here. The facts are simple: Leave it b. Embrace the fields and sheep.
- Setting realistic goals
- Achieving the best degree you can
- Optimising your spare time as a student-
- Starting your own business
- Monetising your hobbies
- Seeking professional opportunities/experiences
- Taking on roles of responsibility
- Making yourself more employable
- Career choices
None of this means you should chase the money, do a few calculations and you’ll find that even the highest paying graduate jobs will not save you from the doom I have discussed- but amidst a debt-filled life, job fulfilment and satisfaction can be very helpful.
Enjoy it!
There are many other ways in which you can make the most out of your time as a student, amongst all of these please be reminded that you also deserve to have fun!
If you are considering going to university and happen to be reading this post, please do not be put off!
Money isn’t the beginning and end of it all- you can get by without a sugar daddy or part time stripping!
Despite everything I have just said, the joys of university meant that I didn’t even think about any of this until I had started working. I learnt a lot whilst at university (you can tell just by looking at how the frequency of my posts increased) and I intend to learn even more in my remaining years. A part of me doesn’t want to leave, and as I write this whilst still on my placement year, I am very excited to go back. There are many invaluable experiences you will gain; University is much more than a degree.
But I won’t say too much about that for now, I have a whole post planned on my university experience. In summary, whether or not you have clear career goals set, if you want to go to university, do it, despite the debt that will await you. Debt will not end your life #NothingDoYou #LifeGoesOn
I hope I haven’t scared anyone that was enjoying a blissfully ignorant life as I once was. My intention as always is to share what I have learnt and hopefully inspire you in some way.
If you’re a current student or a recent graduate, what are your tips for making the most out of university???
Tisha x
#Schmile
Behind the Smile..:) does not encourage the use of sugar daddies to finance higher education.
Good post!! Both of my little cousins just went off to universities and we tell them these same things! I’m definitely going to share this post with them to read! They seem to think it’s going to be easy peezy lol but they need to know it isn’t at all!
Haha it’s far from easy! It will break you down, you have to summon up the strength to pick yourself up! All of the best to them! Thank you for reading 💙
I loved your post!!! True True university debt is the worst…..Luckily i didn’t need to take it since the Government of Kenya pays part of university fees for students in government owned institution and my mother can afford to pay for the remaining part.In fact most students in Kenya can afford to pay their fees comfortably but still take loan just to use the money to fund their lavish campus lifestyles. I just wish they knew what kind of pit they are digging for themselves. Your post sheds some light and I will definitely be sharing. People need to know.
Haha it’s crazy how different it is in different parts of the world!!! Thank you so much- I’m glad you enjoyed reading!💙
This is one hits home. I went to undergraduate school AND graduate school so I can tell you- the concerns you expressed here are very very real.
My parents paid for SOME of my undergraduate fees and NONE of my grad school fees. So I hustled hard: I worked 80hrs per week in undergrad on top of school (I didn’t make many college friends lol), secured a full ride scholarship for the first year of graduate school, but still- I couldn’t make ends meet.
My saving grace was an aunt who paid off my undergraduate loans and funded my grad school fees, because she said it was better for me to repay her- versus repaying a loan institution with crazy fees. Without that strong & amazing woman… I would have paid loans back until I was in my 40s. I am still religiously repaying her from each paycheck I earn, and I thank God every day to have put it in her heart to assist me.
Thank you SO much for sharing your story and thank God for your aunt!!! I think students in the US definitely have it worse off than those of us in the UK, but despite all that, do you have any regrets? Would love for you to share any tips/advice
I remembered I worked full time while going to school. Looking back I don’t know how I was able to swing that but I graduated 4years later. It ain’t easy trust me. I could barely afford feeding regularly but I was able to graduate debt free.
So if was definitely worth it! Thank you so much for sharing!💙
Thanks for this post. You really write insightful posts. I think that university debt is worth it. I never doubted it (especially as I went back to uni to do medicine, so I’m piling up some more debts)
Such wonderful feedback- thank you so much for reading & sharing! Also very glad to hear that- its encouraging!!!
Love this., money for me was the scariest part of uni, but a part time job and budgeting well it’s really nothing to stress about for sure xx
Agreed- it can be difficult but there are more important things to stress about at uni. Thank you for sharing!💙
That’s a great way of looking at college. I learned a lot from my experiences there and my field of study. The debt sucks but the experience was good
Glad you enjoyed it! I agree- the experience is worth it! Thank you for reading💙
I was panicking too while I was in University. Had to work and apply for a lot of scholarships to pay off school. Thankfully my loan amount is low. But you’re right, it was so worth it because it taught me that no matter the odds against me, I can still prevail!
Wonderful post and timely for those who are going to school. Def will share with my friends💕
What a great lesson to learn!!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it- thank you so much for reading & sharing 💙
Higher education is so important but it seems it’s only for those who can afford it. I was lucky; where I lived in the US offered a HOPE scholarship. If I maintained a B average, the state would pay my tuition with money from the lottery. I had to pay for my accommodation and everything else and my masters degree, but I am grateful that I had that scholarship. Good luck to you!
That sounds like a really good scheme! It’s unfair that financial circumstances mean that not everybody gets the university experience. Thank you for reading!💙
As frustrated as I am with my undergraduate debt, the personal and professional ROI is well worth it. I’ve learned so much through the network I developed because of my education, I have no regrets about my college experience.
Thank you for sharing this- it’s extremely encouraging!!!💙
I couldn’t agree more! Well written!
Thank you!💙
Love your article, which probably provoked another question … is University debt worth it . As we all know , student loan debt doesn’t have to be paid back immediately; rather it is paid slowly and comes straight out of a graduate’s pay-packet. As the old saying goes…” I would rather live my life as if there is a God and die to find out there isn’t, than live as if there isn’t and to die to find out that there is”. It can take anything up to twenty years or more to pay everything back (it depends on earnings above £21,000, of course). But any amounts not cleared after 30 years will be wiped. I have three degrees, all of which I’ve paid for myself and which took a huge amount of hard work. The degrees are not all necessary to perform my current job but I believe they gave me an edge in the very competitive selection process and make me a better practitioner in what is an ever more abstract and complicated associate profession. Had I not gone to university, I suspect I would not be in my current job or would be in a less stable part of the industry and I’m quite sure I would be earning less money for my family, and may end up struggling through life. Importantly, the education I received has given me the tools to dig very deeply into life and a much improved status in life, for someone coming from a poor family and again I feel fulfilled. In this current age It’s the most common means of measuring an individual’s ability, not good looks unfortunately (which I don’t have either, and still have to pay for).
Thank you very much for sharing- this is extremely encouraging and it’s definitely important that you mentioned that in the UK, after 30 years the debt is cleared! If I had to choose between paying for looks or an education, for all of the sane reasons you have mentioned above I would definitely choose the latter 😂Although I am yet to graduate, I have definitely observed the variation in ‘stability’ as you’ve called it between those with and without degrees in the corporate world. Thank you again for your comment, you raised some very valid points!😊
Another great post of yours. I hope PI grant a student loan as well. But you arebright money isnt the beginning nor the end of everything. What we all need ia determination to succeed.
Your posts is really inspiring. I would ike to invite you to share your motivatinal stories to empower other people’s lives. Help us encourage others to move forward and to find their strengths. If this is something you would be interested in please let me know. We have a group of people who share thesame goal. You can aend me a pm on my Facebook, or check out https://www.empoweringanduplifting.com we featured one motivational blogger of the week already and we shared 2 inspirational stories already.
Thank you so much- I appreciate your feedback! Glad you agree that money isn’t the beginning or end of everything in life. Will definitely be vising your site 🙂 Thanks again!
This is good. My Daughter will be going to University in a few years and I have already had discussions with her about how to make money from hobbies as she’s very talented. I found your post very honest and helpful.
Thank you very much – all the best to her! I hope she finds this helpful! 🙂
With some smart decisions, a student can graduate college debt free. So many spend needless money by taking electives at large universities. This will cost thousands more than if they had just taken those classes at a local college. And, they would have saved money on dorm room costs. There are ways to get an education. You just have to be smart about how you do it.
I agree that it’s not impossible- self discipline is definitely key in such cases. A lot of students unfortunately do not realise this until they are already stuck in the system. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
The more I hear about other country’s college tuition, the happier I am that I live in Australia, and sought my education here. We have so many payment plan options, easy to access tuition assistance, heaps of scholarships available, and our tuition isn’t very expensive even though its world ranked. My entire degree only was $18K and after my academic scholarship I’ll only need to pay $10K. I respect the hustle babe!
Bernice | IG @bunnybernice
https://www.bunnybernice.com/single-post/2021/09/06/Verdem-Cleopatra-Review—24karat-Gold-Facial
I was literally just thinking about your blog yesterday! And how relevant it is! After graduation and the loans I have accrued, this is def a breath of fresh air
Haha glad it did something positive! Thank you for reading 💙
I am in school now and so far I have been going pretty good. I totally understand all your points.
All the best with your studies! Thank you for reading- glad you can relate 💙
School is very expensive. I have the student loans to prove it. Great post though informing youth that it is possible to go to university without extreme measures having to take place.
Thank you for reading!💙
Such sound advice, I will definitely be sharing this 🙂
Thank you so much!💙
This was a great post ! I left college with debt and I’ve been working to make sure my daughters don’t have to deal with the stress. I’ll definitely be sharing your post!
Thank you so much!💙
This is great information. Here in the United States tuition is so high. Most parents don’t speak to their children about the cost just that they have to go.
Crazy that people still think you ‘have’ to go to university but I’ll save that for the next post 😂Thank you for reading 💙
It’s definitely tough but we will definitely get through whether we go to college or not! Love the inspiration today 🙂
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 💙
Being 5 years out from graduation I can attest to the fact I never thought about paying back loans till after graduation. However, I wouldn’t trade my debt for the experiences and friendships that I gained while in college! I do wish that I had learned more about business, finances, investments, and saving while in school so that after graduation I was caught up in the struggle. I did manage to make it through without a sugar daddy and maybe a little leg twerking on the side but nothing major lol. Great post! I look forward to reading more about your journey!
Hahaha a lil leg twerk never hurt nobody 😂thank you so much for sharing your story, always encouraging to learn how others dealt with it! Glad you enjoyed the post!💙
Great post!!! I literally LOL’d.
Haha happy to hear that! Thank you 💙
Debt is definitely something I wish I had considered more intelligently when choosing my college. I am not in *as* bad of a position as I could be, but…..those dollars aren’t going anywhere by tomorrow either haha. I’ll never forget when I had to go to exit counseling…luckily I had been tracking my debt, and I was very aware of the amount I would be paying back. Others, not so much. If trepidation had a face, I saw it times 30. So many students sitting around me were in shock, and did not seem aware of their debts, or interest.
😂😂😂I’m definitely one of those that was unaware! I knew of it, but the details were a blur. But you survived- there is hope! Thank you for reading!💙
Now you make me wish that I had decorated my cap. It was a journey and a process and yes, a pocket full of money I did not have to spend on it but, I wanted to get my degree and it was so worth the pursuit. Congrats on doing your thang.
Haha we aren’t even allowed to in the UK but I’m tempted to buy a dummy cap and decorate it 😂so glad it was worth it! Thank you for sharing 💙
Haha! Thank God, I made it through (submerged in student loans of course). I think one important as well before going to college is researching the degree you want to go for. Some are a complete waste of time.
Definitely agree! Despite how treat the experience is, I don’t think EVERY degree is worth the debt! Thank you for reading 💙
I don’t think you’ll scare anyone with your post, infact is admirably honest. I think people should get an idea of how it can be and go into uni with real expectations. Anything worth doing in life is not usually handed to you, and the best things in life are never easy but you praise yourself more for all the hard work you put in.
I totally agree, nothing good comes easy! Thank you so much for reading x
Really interesting and motivating. Hope it helps the students to choose wisely.
Thank you very much for reading- I hope for the same! 🙂
Love your writing style! Very entertaining but informative at the same time!
I really appreciate your feedback- thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it x
I wish I knew this when I was in college a a few years ago! These are all
Great tips . I’m still laying my student loans off, but in always staying positive because they’re almost over
Thank you so much for reading! Glad you enjoyed it and glad you’re almost debt free too!
I just graduated under-grad, so this post make me feel a bit better about my post-grad blues. I would say that networking is the most important part of college. That’s really what sets you most apart from others, who you know.
Thank you so much for reading and sharing= networking is definitely something I’m going to try and make more effort to do this year!
Great post! I am in debt now from a university. I do agree that you should enjoy college while you can. Some people don’t get the opportunity.
Happy to hear that you enjoyed it- thank you!x