Student loan has always been a sore topic, especially now, and I feel called to dispense some practical auntie advice in case it helps a young person who still has time to avoid the financial pitfalls that most people fall into before their frontal lobes are even fully developed.

Admittedly, I was one of the lucky ones who left college with only about 10k of debt, which was very manageable and I pressed on the gas pedal to pay off quickly. The absence of this looming cloud over my head (and a paid off Toyota Corolla that I plan to drive until the wheels fall off) has afforded me the time and peace of mind to focus on passion projects that I love, and a good buffer against the macroeconomics factors I can't control.

And before you come to me with the word "privilege," please go back and read a few of my family's stories. To summarize, we are Vietnamese refugees who lived through the entirety of the Vietnam tragedy for over 100 years, including multiple displacements and deaths directly caused by war and colonialism.

While I can't do much for the generation who is already in debt (I believe there are much smarter people than me who can give that guidance, and I hope we as a nation can come to a solution that is compassionate and fair), hopefully my story can help parents and grandparents of high school students who are planning their next steps. I have been guiding my niece and nephew who are still in middle and high school with the same advice, and they're on a good trajectory to avoid drowning in college debt.

How I got to this point was a combination of strategic prudence, frugality, good mentors that I was blessed to find, a sense of urgency to shorten the college experience, and a period of personal sacrifices for long-term rewards. And no, none of it involves enlisting in the military, although that IS an option for some. I told my parents that I didn’t want them to shell out a single dime for my college, and I meant it.

1. AP CLASSES AND HIGH SCHOOL COLLEGE CREDITS

During my freshman year in high school, a guidance counselor talked to us about these two amazing options: 1) we can enroll into AP classes which would prepare us for the national AP exams, and most colleges will give us full credits for passing scores of 3-5, or 2) we can enroll in the Tulsa Community College dual credits program while we're in high school. Tuitions would be waived for high school students, and the credits we earn at TCC are transferrable to the 4-year universities, because they are counted as community college credits.

Either one of these is an excellent option, but of course they require a certain amount of rigorous grit, discipline, and immense personal sacrifices. I took 6 AP classes during my junior year, and that was the equivalent of cramming 6 college-level courses into each semester. I can tell you that I had absolutely ZERO social life during my 4 years of high school. I had time to eat, sleep, go to school, and study. And that was it.

But the short-term sacrifices paid off because by passing the AP exams, I entered university as a second-semester sophomore. I shaved off 3 semesters of required college credits, which saved me about 15k in tuitions (for a state university in 2005).

My niece and her friend right now are enrolled in the TCC college credits program. They intend to follow my footsteps to shave off as many college credits as possible before they enter college.

2. THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE

Here is the more abstract part of the trap that no one talks about: the illusion of "the college experience" that is built to prolong the time you voluntarily spend in college, which means more debt.

There is a reason why heavy marketing budgets are spent on romanticizing "the college experience." Think of the aesthetically pleasing young people flashing perfect smiles on your college pamphlets. Think of the marketing videos with images of manicured green lawns and carefree coeds playing ultimate frisbees, kicking hacky sacks and throwing a football around next to elegant historical buildings. Think of the freshman orientation that is always led by a couple of charismatic senior students who hype you up over school spirits and Greek pledges and homecomings and oh, don't forget school merchandise are available for sale in the Student Union. 😉

All of this is an orchestrated performance with ONE goal in mind: to appeal to your inner child, the one who will associate this expensive institution to a safe, idyllic haven that will shield you away from the scary responsibilities of the outside adult world, as long as you stay inside this illusory sanctuary. But that temporary protection will cost you by the hour.

There is a reason why I knew some 5th-year and 6th-year seniors who decided to take out more loans to delay graduating and leaving their temporary sanctuary. They were afraid to let go of the college experience. Sadly, this was a mistake that they are still paying to this day.

And my second saving grace is the mindset I adopted before I set foot behind those university gates: college is a transactional relationship, a milestone to pass through as quickly as possible, not a romanticized experience. I stepped on the gas pedal and declined all offers of extra electives, second majors, minors, etc...I would spend ONLY the amount of hours I needed inside this debt trap to get that piece of paper, and not a single minute more than necessary.

And if you're worried about missing out on connecting with friends in college...trust me, your auntie, when I say this: the friends that you make in your late 20s and 30s will align much better with who you mature into, and you will have just as much fun with them, if not more...especially when you all have the funds to enjoy your favorite activities together.

3. FRUGAL PRACTICALITY

This next part is even more boring, but I can't dismiss it. I got an unexciting and practical degree that gave me a foot in the door into my career. I worked 3 jobs while I was in college, and got some scholarships, to cover the rest of the expenses. Once I could, I lived off campus with roommates. I minimized on the frivolous expenses. Alcohol, going out, parties...those all cost money. The "romanticized college experience" is expensive. There's a premium levied on the college experience. If you delay those gratifications in the short term, you will have plenty of time and more freedom later in life to enjoy those things (within reasons) if you wish.

I hope these advice find their way to some young people who find them useful. And of course, trade schools are a great option too. It all boils down to making intentional, prudent, strategic decisions with a plan, and it should start as early as middle school - hopefully with the guidance of good adult mentors.

**Photo is of me during my final college semester. I was smiling ear-to-ear because I couldn’t wait to leave school.