How are you supposed to feel after a dream comes true? Whether it's going division 1 for a sport, getting the best grade in the class, or even attaining your dream job? I imagine it would feel great after all of your hard work and dedication finally pays off. Recently, a lifelong dream of mine came; I felt little relief and honestly not very enthusiastic about it either. Since I first moved to Connecticut at the age of four, I had always wanted to be a Uconn Husky. I have numerous memories of wearing their merchandise, attending Uconn athletic events, and visiting the campus.

On the other hand, when I finally received my acceptance letter, I did not feel ecstatic or filled with overwhelming excitement. Thank goodness it would only cost thirty-three thousand dollars a year to fulfill my dream. 

Many students end up not being able to fulfill their dreams of going to big name institutions all because of a dollar amount. Should students really have to abandon the results of their hard work just because they have to make a more financially sound decision? It is very disappointing to know that your achievements made the cut yet the only barrier is the cost. Students should not have to abandon lifelong dreams due to excessive costs of colleges in America.

I had a lot of colleges to choose from when applying and making a decision after hearing back from them all. With a relatively good gpa (3.6). I had many colleges on the table that I had high chances of being accepted to. A few honorable mentions on the list include, UConn, University of Alabama, University of South Carolina, Eastern, Fordham, and Bentley. My goal was to find the college that would fit most comfortably and be mildly affordable. After confiding in a couple of close friends I was told, “You can’t put a price on your dream” and “The experience is worth the cost” both of these statements are indeed true., On the contrary, the “experience” could very well end with me paying it off well into my career. How was I supposed to know as a high school senior the effects of taking out student loans would have on future me? Investopedia, a financial website, states, “Student loan debt affects more than your financial independence and your standard of living. It also determines which dreams you’re able to pursue and which ones will become a distant memory.” The majority of students have a hard time carrying this financial burden on their shoulders into their first few jobs, and it can even conflict when attempting to buy property and put money away to save. The average families in America do not have the money to pay their children’s tuition which means loans are their only option. 

I found it very challenging to come to terms with the reality of which I had to not only make a decision on a school to attend but also the financial aspect of furthering my education. The New Yorker Newsletter says, “The challenge of paying for college binds parents and children together in a saga of ever-growing sacrifice.” A popular discussion these days is the argument of whether or not going to your “dream” school is worth the financial burden. This is an opinionative topic and varies from person to person. 

Personally, I am forgoing a dream of mine which is attending University of Connecticut in Storrs; however, in the long run, I am expecting to be more well off and move with financial stability. 

Works Cited

Hsu, Hua. “Student Debt Is Transforming the American Family.” The New Yorker, 9 September 2019, newyorker.com/magazine/2019/09/09/student-debt-is-transforming-the-american-family. Accessed 29 April 2022.

Williams, Terri, and Thomas Brock. “10 Ways Student Debt Can Derail Your Life.” Investopedia, investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/100515/10-ways-student-debt-can-destroy-your-life.asp. Accessed 29 April 2022.