After enrolling in a honors program at a private college, my parents went bankrupt when my father lo
After enrolling in a honors program at a private college, my parents went bankrupt when my father lost his business in the crash of the Michigan economy. My parents divorced and I was estranged from my family.I lived in Chicago where rent for a college student is $500/month. Add rood and utilities and I had no money left. I had no health insurance and “slept off” bronchitis. I just recently paid off the medical bills I had from the one time I needed to pay out of pocket for an emergency and just did not have the money. I could not afford a text book ¾ of the years I was in college and read them at the bookstore in between class (5:45-9pm) and work (7am-5pm) (that is 14 hour day of work, 6 days a week, without homework or travel included in that)I worked and went to school full-time. I made my classes. Never missed work, and did extra.I out read, out worked and out energized my peers, without a community of people I knew or trusted. They could not have helped me if they had wanted to.I am 28. I make well over $100,000/year and pay down the $60K of debt I took out as a 18 year old with no cosigner for my loans ($500/month). I have worked my ass off, stayed inspired and made smart choices when I wanted to give up.I am the 2% after living on corn flakes & water, and my own ambition- I stand with the 99% and say do not give up! -- source link