Atlanta: A Growing Struggle for Older Student Debtors
Itโs a hard truth that many of our older Americans, those over 60, are feeling the weight of student debt on their shoulders. This demographic is actually one of the fastest growing groups of student debtors. For many, like me, this burden isnโt just a small bump in the road; itโs a heavy load thatโs hard to carry, especially when funds are limited. Iโm 77 years old, and I find myself staring at a staggering $549,497.20 in student loans. Yes, you read that right.
The Daily Grind of Debt Repayment
Each month, I stretch my limited income across essential payments like rent, groceries, medical bills, and gas. In this juggling act, student loan payments often slide to the bottom of the priority list, sometimes not getting paid at all. You see, many of us have been left in the lurch by a system that has failed usโbroken relief programs, shady loan servicers, and a government that seems to neglect the growing crisis among older debtors.
This Thursday, September 12, Iโm making a trip from my home in Atlanta to Washington D.C. with the Debt Collectiveโs caucus of older student debtors. Together, weโre demanding that the White House and the US Department of Education take action to clear the burdensome loans that weigh on millions of us. Itโs time for older Americans to take a standโthis is the first time our voices lead the charge for student debt cancellation.
The Urgency of the Situation
Despite ongoing challenges from the far right to block relief, the cancellation of student loans is legal and absolutely necessary. The education department has the tools to make quick relief possibleโafter all, they are allowed to discharge student loans based on the debtorโs age. Itโs high time the Biden-Harris administration steps up and uses this authority to help those of us who are older and struggling. If they donโt, weโre facing the possibility of dragging these unpayable debts to our graves. Can you imagine that?
Why I Took on Debt
Like many others, I took on this debt to try to create a better life for myself and my family. As a single parent, I was determined to provide for my kidsโfeeding them, clothing them, encouraging their passions. I earned a masterโs degree in English education and spent 20 years teaching in low-performing schools, working tirelessly in communities of color just like the ones I came from in the Bronx.
I loved teaching and watching my students grow, attending their games and graduations, and even supporting them financially when I could. Teaching was my passion, but letโs face it, it didnโt pay the bills.
Back to School Again
After retiring from teaching, I still couldnโt afford to stop working. So, at age 65, I went back to school again, this time for a masterโs in pastoral counseling. I wanted to help my community healโespecially women who had faced sexual abuse, just like I had. I witnessed incredible transformations as women found their voices and began to heal. My advocacy work has deepened since then and now, thereโs even a law expanding rape kit tracking in Florida named after me!
But hereโs the frustrating part: even as Iโve fought for others, Iโve felt trapped in my own financial struggle. Each time I got a notice from my loan servicer, it sent my blood pressure up. I avoided opening the envelopes, letting them pile up until I had to face the music. The numbers were suffocatingโenough to make you think I had a million-dollar salary rather than struggling to make ends meet.
The Need for Immediate Action
It has become clear to me that thereโs a path to relief: the Biden-Harris administration can cancel our student loans now. Itโs time for the president and education department to take responsibility. The longer they wait, the larger this crisis will grow. Todayโs young debtors are just tomorrowโs older debtors, and we cannot continue to let the stigma of debt shame us into silence.
Demanding Change
Older student debtors are finally uniting and gearing up to march to Washington, D.C. We want our loans canceled in our lifetimesโnot after weโve passed on. Itโs a race against time, and with elections right around the corner, itโs time for politicians to act. The White House possesses the power to bring us the relief we so desperately need, and itโs high time we held them accountable.
Will they rise to the occasion? Only time will tell, but one thingโs for sureโwe canโt afford to wait any longer.
Author: STAFF HERE MEMPHIS WRITER
The MEMPHIS STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREMemphis.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Memphis, Shelby County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the areaโwith deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Beale Street Music Festival, Elvis Week, and Memphis in May International Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Memphis Chamber and the Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in logistics, healthcare, and music that power the local economy such as FedEx, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and AutoZone. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBristol.com, HEREChattanooga.com, HEREKnoxville.com, and HERENashville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Tennessee's dynamic landscape.
