You know what they say about assuming...
Connie’s Corner
Last week while having lunch in College Station with my gentleman friend, I couldn’t stop thinking about the news footage of college students waving signs thanking President Biden for canceling their student loan debt. Once upon a time, someone referred to college students as “the best and the brightest.” If that’s true, their signs should have been thanking the American taxpayer, not our Constitutionally challenged president!
Don’t get me wrong, my four middle-aged children and I have lots of experience with student loans. In the 90s, I failed to heed the words of financial journalist Jane Bryant Quinn who warned of the massive debt that students of this generation would accumulate and jumped in anyway, borrowing from 401(k)s and taking out student and Parent Plus loans. Quinn was right and my children have spent the last three decades repaying their debt.
Responding to my gentleman friend’s concern about my deep thoughts, I told him how much those images bothered me. I looked around at the young wait staff rather pessimistically and “assumed” they were probably thrilled with this turn of events.
One of the biggest adjustments related to my latein- life dating relationship is never knowing what might come out of my gentleman friend’s mouth. Our server was a soft-spoken, college age, young Hispanic woman and my friend wondered aloud to me what she might think about the student loan forgiveness. Just making conversation, or so I thought, we learned she’s a student at Texas A&M. Then to my surprise, he asked her what SHE thought of President Biden’s student loan forgiveness! I expected her to ignore the question but she paused and then quietly replied, “I don’t think it’s fair.” She told us that her parents can’t afford to help with school. She has a scholarship and works 25 hours a week. She has NO student loans and doesn’t want one. Same with her sister. She then said she was proud – and emphasized proud - to be able to pay her bills herself!
After recovering from my friend’s bold questioning of a complete stranger, the dark cloud which hung over me like an anvil lifted because I saw a glimmer of hope for the future. If there are more young adults out there like this young woman who choose economic independence for themselves and they elect like-minded leaders for our country, I do believe our Republic stands a chance!
I was also reminded that misconceptions can take root when we allow ourselves to fall into the trap of stereotyping based on age, gender, ethnicity or any other identifier. All I can say is, what a difference a little conversation can make!
The column represents the thoughts and opinions of Connie Clements. Opinion columns are NOT the opinion of the Navasota Examiner. Clements is a freelance reporter for the Navasota Examiner and an award-winning columnist.