The Lucky One


NAME: Julianna Kaercher
AGE: 22
GRADE: Ohio University senior
MAJOR: Psychology
GRADUATION DATE: March 2007
DEBT UPON GRADUATION: ZERO



When I say lucky, I mean smart. Julie received a full-ride scholarship for receiving a 32 on her ACT – a shoe-in for a full-ride scholarship. Julie’s only financial burdens since she was admitted to the university have been room and board for her freshman and sophomore years and rent and extra expenses for her junior and senior years.

Julie has taken advantage of this great offering in a very positive way and actively involves herself in many groups and organizations. She is a member of Friends of Big Brothers, Big Sisters (she was president for the 2005-2006 school year), is the Athens’ Youth Recreation Volleyball coach for the fourth grade, a psychology 221 statistics tutor and is a member of PSI CHI (the national honors society in psychology).

If you can believe it, she also makes time to work as a Front Room employee at Ohio University’s Baker Center. She is also an intern at the Ohio Department of Transportation during the winter and summer intercessions. This sounds ludicrous considering the fact that she is not in any debt. However, she sees this as an opportunity to continue saving money, instead of spending what she saved over the years. This is something only very few students have the ability to do. Most students can only worry about all of the money they are going to owe, not what they can save.

Julie’s major concerns consist of gaining an education, making lifelong friends and making a difference in the world through volunteer activities. You may notice that the list considers nothing financially – me being bitter. That doesn’t mean that she hasn’t considered the fact that she is very fortunate to be in her situation.

“I just think student debt is ridiculous and I am thankful every day for the fact that I won’t be in it,” she said.

After graduation, Julie plans to either gain an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps starting summer 2007, or attend graduate school for a master's in art history, beginning fall 2007.

Does Julie see a bright future?

“I hope so! I definitely want to help others, and I know the Peace Corps will teach me to appreciate everything I have been given. I also hope to gain a successful career in art history; one where I can enjoy what I do for a living and also have time to help others. I see my future being very bright,” Julie said.

Like most students, Julie, who won’t even acquire any debt after graduation, knows what kind of a burden debt will be on her friends.

“I feel horrible for all my friends who will be tied down by loans post-graduation. I understand that the loans enabled them to gain a college education, but I think everyone should be entitled to a free education if they want to learn. Just because they did not get a high score on a test (the ACT) means nothing. Most of my friends had to shell out thousands of dollars, only to be charged interest that will lead one of my friends to actually pay twice as much as she borrowed. Just because you want to better your future, you have to go into debt, only to work twice as hard to come out of it, and with an education that may or may not get you a job that can pay the salary to get out of debt.”

* The photo is of Julie and her brother overseas (taken by anonymous person).