Atlanta, Georgia: A Journey Towards Student Debt Relief for Older Americans
As I sit here in Atlanta, it’s hard not to feel the weight of the world on my shoulders. At 77 years old, I’m staring down a mountain of student loan debt that totals a whopping $549,497.20. Can you believe that? It’s not just me, either. Believe it or not, older Americans over 60 are now the **fastest growing group of student debtors**. What a twist, right?
Many of us seniors are stretching our limited incomes just to cover the basics—rent, medical bills, groceries, and gas. Let’s not even talk about student loan payments, which often take a backseat and get brushed aside. Sadly, years of broken student relief programs and neglect from loan servicers mean that many older Americans like me are dragging around debts that feel like they’ll never disappear, not even when we retire.
This Thursday, September 12, I’m packing my bags and heading to Washington, D.C. with a group from the Debt Collective—**older student debtors united**. Together, we’re demanding that the White House and the U.S. Department of Education step up and take responsibility for fixing the mess they’ve created. And let’s be clear, this is a historic moment because it’s the **first time ever** that older folks are leading the charge for student debt cancellation. It’s about time!
Continuing the Fight
Even though there are some who are doing their best to block student loan relief, cancelling these burdensome loans is actually legal and more necessary than ever. As luck would have it, there are rules that empower the education department to discharge student loans based on the age of the borrower. It’s an opportunity that the Biden-Harris administration must take before many of us carry these unpayable debts with us to the grave.
I wasn’t always staring at this mountain of debt, though. Like many, I took on student loans with high hopes of making life better for myself and my family. As a single parent, I was determined to provide for my kids by pursuing a master’s in English education. I eventually became a teacher, spending 20 fulfilling years in schools serving low-income communities, much like the one I grew up in.
Those years were incredibly rewarding; I cherished the connection with my students. I’d attend their games and graduations and even sneak them a few dollars now and then. Yet, when it came time to retire, I unfortunately couldn’t afford to stop working. Lasting financial stress drove me back to the classroom, this time for a master’s in pastoral counseling to help my community heal from trauma.
This work took on special meaning for me, particularly when I realized that so many women in my church were suffering from silent wounds related to past sexual abuse. Helping them navigate those experiences became a way for me to give back and serve a greater good.
A Fight Against Shame
Amidst this journey, I’ve learned that, due to poor political leadership, injustice often festers, leaving victims to feel shame for something that is not their fault. That’s where my determination to advocate for student loan relief comes from. In our society, many feel judged for being financially strapped, but the truth is that the economic system is rigged to benefit the wealthy.
As a single mother managing multiple jobs, making my student loan payments became a huge challenge. Every time I received a notice from my loan servicer, my anxiety would shoot through the roof. The thought of opening those letters was so overwhelming that I would sometimes just shove them in a drawer. Why? Because I knew what they said, and I also knew I didn’t have the funds to pay.
But here’s the deal: there’s an escape route from this nightmare. The Biden-Harris administration has the authority to wipe out our student loans and they must do it now! Until they take action, this debt crisis will only continue to grow, affecting not just older debtors today but also the younger generations who will one day find themselves in the same situation.
It’s high time we stop wallowing in shame and silence. We older student debtors are marching to Washington, D.C. to demand our student loan debts be cancelled in our lifetime—absolutely not at our funerals! With elections on the horizon, the Democrats need to realize they can’t ignore the suffering of millions. The power to liberate us lies with them. It’s time to act!
