Happy early Birthday to MEEEEE!!!! This morning I did something I have DREAMED of doing since I graduated college 8 years ago…….I paid off my student loans…awwwwwe yeah!!!
For some of you, you’re thinking, well big deal, I graduated with zero loans and I say…..AWESOME!!! And for those of you who say, that it will be forever before you get to say the same, I say, you can DEWIT! I put myself through college 100% on my own, with ZERO help from anyone! I didn’t qualify for a lot of financial aid because my family was part of the “working poor” that made just enough to be exempt. My parents obviously didn’t have the extra cash so I was determined not to let money be the reason NOT to go to college. No one in my family had gone past a high school diploma…and I wanted to break the cycle! I worked 2 jobs thru college, learned how to buy stock in amazon and other companies to make extra cash while building up my business on the side and it’s been a LONG 8 years but I can finally say that my school loans can “kiss it”! haha!
This morning I wrote the last and final check I will EVER be paying to the American Education Services….it’s been nice knowing you! As I wrote “Paid in Full” in the memo of my check, I got emotional. It’s corny-I know this! BUT this is a huge milestone for me! I turn the big THREE-ZERO in two days….*sniff sniff* and I had a few goals that I wanted to accomplish before I turned 30. One was to be completely self employed and the other was to pay off my student loans….check….and CHECK!
Hard work and determination can get you anywhere. Now that I’m debt free (except my mortgage) in both my personal AND business life….I can finally thank my Mom for being so annoying growing up and drilling into my mind that it pays to “put a little elbow grease in it”, “hard work won’t kill you”…and “if you want it bad enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen!”
That is awesome! I so look up to you! This is a reminder for myself that all the work I’m putting into my business will pay off, and that even building up a ridiculous amount of student aid debt won’t be so bad, because I’ll be able to pay it off eventually. 🙂 Serious props to you *haha, photography pun* for being able to do that! Can’t wait till I’m done with school (I still have at least 3 years to go) so I can see how fast I can pay it off! 🙂
You are such an inspiration! I had to put myself through school too, and I’m looking forward to being debt free which wont be for a while though 🙁
I’ve been reading your blog like a religion. Just started doing photography full time and I love the things you write for photographers. Keep it up!
I just graduated in December and my goal is to have mine paid off in 10 years. Knowing you also put yourself 100% through college is such an inspiration!
That is an awesome birthday present. Way to go!
WHOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!#!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oops, there was a little word I had to bleep out there LOL
So happy for you, and excited, proud, emotional (duh, us criers flock together).
Yippee, happy dancing in Indiana (the State)
That’s awesome and you should be proud!!!
Congratulations!! Can’t wait for that day!!
That’s AWESOME Jen!! Congrats