This Is Why (Not) Part II

, by Cesar Chavez,

My name is Cesar Chavez, poor Hispanic male, age 19. I am writing this because as a poor student I can no longer stand and see how I, along with other students, am brought into a cycle of perpetual poverty by this university. It is unfair that this university has the audacity to state that there is no money for poor students and that it forces us to take loans in order to obtain a degree that in the future will become a worthless piece of paper. Likewise, I am wont to break the silence around the issue of poverty. By not talking about this issue we allow this injustice to continue. I also would like to direct this critique to poor students currently at Wesleyan. If you are reading this I encourage you to speak up, I know the frustration and anger that you are all probably experiencing, do not keep it to yourselves. Make your voices heard.

Our custodians are not the only ones who have been alienated, marginalized, and oppressed at Wesleyan, poor students have suffered these ailments as well. I, along with many other students, am a victim of indentured servitude that comes in the form of Student Debt. I am a poor student going to this “elite” institution so that I can pursue my academic goals and be a member of a productive society. But in my opinion many people aren’t going to college to learn anymore, people attend college so they can land a decent job. Likewise, we live in a time when a Bachelor’s degree won’t get you too far. Since we live in a global capitalist economy dominated by a global plutocracy, students in the United States have to compete even harder for jobs with students from other countries like India and China. In order to stay competitive one needs to obtain a Master’s or PhD. As a result the college and school cultures have changed in recent years to accommodate the growing corporatization. More emphasis is placed on standardized tests, corporate careers, competition, and raising tuition. Now few people seem to have desire to learn anymore, they simply want to walk in, pass tests, and get the career networks they need, walk out and land a decent job. All of this has shown me that higher education is dying and makes me question, Why am I even bothering with college?

On top of all this there is the fact that people have to take out loans in this country in order to obtain a degree. I will be graduating with an estimated $12,000 in debt. If I decide to attend graduate school in the future it would another $12,000 (most likely more). Sure $12,000 in debt is nothing compared to $30,000 or even $1,000,000 in debt. But I am poor, and I have no safety nets. What assures me that when I graduate I will find a job? What assures me that when I leave college I will be able to exercise my career as a Historian? Who is going to hire me?

Chavez is a member of the class of 2015.

  • Alum

    Then why not major in a subject where you can learn, be employed very well upon graduation, and still minor in history? As an alum who gives a lot f money, but upon graduation ad some debt, I think that “realistic” compromise is commendable. Wesleyanis a great school, but will an endowment per capita less than its peers (because we DON’T send as many grads into lucrative careers as our peers), what do you expect? The problem, in my humble opinion ( and I worked 20 hours per week while at Wes) is that the expectation of a “free ride” has been exacerbated in the last 20 years. Reality “bites”, but it is NOT always such a bad thing. Be grateful or leave… My scholarship contributions can then support another student.

    • Magda Teter

      You can get great jobs with a degree in history. History offers training and skills and knowledge that represent more than just remembering the past. So, let us not disparage the major. One does not have to be “a historian” with a history degree. History offers much more. But there are ways to have careers as historians, and if someone wants to become a historian and go to graduate school, s/he should discuss this with their professors.

  • guest

    college isn’t a universal right. and 12k in debt is far less than other people have for going to much worse schools

  • Anonymous

    “Wesleyanis a great school, but will an endowment per capita less than its peers (because we DON’T send as many grads into lucrative careers as our peers),”

    Who says? Is there a study? If there is a difference, is it significant enough to explain the disparity? Who are the “peers” and who decided on them. Your statement is a popular and self serving excuse, not a demonstrated reason.

  • Anonymous

    Mr. Chavez, you are not in servitude. No one has forced you to make the decisions you have made. You are receiving an education and will have $12,000 in debt when you graduate? That’s not a very difficult debt to service. Nor were you forced to incur that debt. You were free to attend other schools, not as expensive as Wesleyan. The cost of your Wesleyan education will be about $240,000 for four years. Five percent of that cost is, by your calculation, going to be paid by debt that you have incurred. So 95% is being paid as you go, and apparently by persons other than you.

    By any definition, you have received a great deal. It’s amazing that you do not recognize this. You are the recipient of great good fortune, and are whining about the cost of a used Volkswagen. Get a job on graduation, work a year, pay off the debt and move on. Good luck in your career as a historian. I hope that you someday learn that, historically speaking, you are one of the most fortunate people who has ever lived.

  • Wesleyan ’08

    “What assures me that when I graduate I will find a job? What assures me that when I leave college I will be able to exercise my career as a Historian? Who is going to hire me?”

    Cesar, Cesar, Cesar…I hear your concern, but listen: nothing is ever assured, for anyone. A world-class education for $12k is a steal. I know because I graduated from Wesleyan in 2008 with about $19k in debt and still thank my lucky stars. Like you, I had no safety nets. I’m no fan of the “bootstraps” approach to talking about breaking the cycle of poverty but I truly believe that if I can do it, so can you. I got a job paying $30k a year at a nonprofit in NYC, got the cheapest room I could find, and worked that debt off in less than 3 years. (For transparency’s sake: my family contributed about 3k to my debt, and I was thankful for their help.) It was not assured to me when I graduated, and I implore you to move away from the idea that you’re entitled to job or even financial security. You’ll be competing for jobs, just like everyone else.

    The best advice I can muster up: I’m assuming you’re doing work-study right now, if not, sign up asap. Start researching personal finance management strategies instead of wasting time on Facebook (or any other time-suck you might have). You will have a 6-month grace period before your loans are due; use this time wisely. Make a budget. Work any job you have to, save as much money as you can, and make payments as soon as you can. Always pay more than the minimum due. Consider working in the nonprofit sector or teaching; the pay won’t be amazing, but the loan forgiveness options are good. I’m still working in the nonprofit world and I manage to donate to Wesleyan a couple times a year. Not a bad life. I’ve finished grad school with around $12k and with my current salary I’m planning to pay it off in the next 1-2 years.

    #1 tip: Spend as little time being angry about being poor as possible. You’re at Wesleyan until 2015? Take advantage of as many opportunities, resources, and connections as you can – they will all come in handy when you graduate. Build social capital now so that you have a professional network as an alum, if not for job referrals than at least for emotional support.

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