I want to start this post out with a bit of backstory about myself. I come from a pair of loving parents, both of whom work. We live in a town on Long Island in the heart of white, middle-class suburbia. I went to a private school for six years, and nowadays I study Computer Science at SBU. When I hear my peers talk about student debt, I just have to smile and nod along because my parents have been putting me through college.

Don’t take this the wrong way- not a single day passes that I am not thankful for the upbringing I was lucky enough to have. Not a single day passes that I don’t feel thankful that I won’t have to leave this school being crushed under mountains of debt. Not a single day passes that I thank my lucky stars that I never had to worry about money, or going hungry because someone got fired, or worry that we might lose our house over something going awry. I love my parents and all they’ve done for me. It’s my hope that someday I’ll be able to repay the favor.

The reason I bring it up is because I want to stress that it’s not myself that I’m worried about. All things considered, me and my family will be just fine. For us, nothing is about to change. I bring it up because the people I’ve met, especially within the last few years, may not be.

And here I get to that letter.Continue reading