I graduated from one of the country’s top universities with my Master’s and $150,000 in debt. I wanted to work in non-profit and help make the world a better place. Instead, I now work in business, giving advice to billion dollar companies on how to best push their products and deceive consumers into buying them. I do this because I have a 2 year old daughter who needs to be provided for, and a non-profit salary with an $1100 a month (25% of my income) student loan payment won’t cut it. Within weeks of her birth I started saving for her college education because I never want her to have the burden of student loans. I want her to be able to follow her dreams, like I never got the chance to. However, I will still warn her that when people tell her she can be anything she wants to be, it’s a lie. You can only do what you want in life if you have the money, and none of the debt. I’m sad that I will have to tell her this. I’m sad that her future looks darker than any other generation before. I’m sad the American Dream is dying.

I AM THE 99%