Growing up in a poor immigrant family, I learned that paying for college is a privilege, not a right or an obligation. My parents didn't have much of an education and worked minimum-wage jobs just to keep us afloat, so saving for our tuition wasn’t an option. My siblings and I had to figure it out ourselves through financial aid, work-study, and loans.
My two sisters worked full-time and hit the books at night for years to get their associate degrees. I started at a city community college before transferring to a prestigious state university, finishing my BA three years later. I eventually paid off my loans by working two jobs, then grinded through an MA in a year and a half while working all day and studying at night.
Sure, I sometimes wish my parents could have helped out, but honestly? Those struggles taught me so much. They’re exactly what turned me into the independent, responsible, and financially secure retiree I am today.
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Growing up in a poor immigrant family, I learned that paying for college is a privilege, not a right or an obligation. My parents didn't have much of an education and worked minimum-wage jobs just to keep us afloat, so saving for our tuition wasn’t an option. My siblings and I had to figure it out ourselves through financial aid, work-study, and loans. My two sisters worked full-time and hit the books at night for years to get their associate degrees. I started at a city community college before transferring to a prestigious state university, finishing my BA three years later. I eventually paid off my loans by working two jobs, then grinded through an MA in a year and a half while working all day and studying at night. Sure, I sometimes wish my parents could have helped out, but honestly? Those struggles taught me so much. They’re exactly what turned me into the independent, responsible, and financially secure retiree I am today.
Post: Is there any point when a child needs financial help that you feel comfortable saying “not my problem?”
Link to comment from March 14, 2026