The Conversation That Almost Ended My College Journey

A few weeks into my freshman year, I was pulled out of class and told that I owed the university $900. It was 1987.

My student loan had not been processed, my mother could not pay the bill without jeopardizing her own ability to survive, and I was warned that I could be removed from school. I was only 18 years old.

In this episode of IN THE KNOW with Tony Reeves, I reflect on the emotional weight of that conversation, the painful reality many students face when financial aid falls short, and the moment I realized that I would have to take responsibility for finding a way to finance my own education.

Although the situation eventually worked out, that experience changed me. It pushed me into survival mode, shaped the way I approached college, and influenced how I continue to think about financial security today.

Sometimes one conversation does more than interrupt your plans. It changes how you prepare for the rest of your life.

Listen to the full episode and share it with a student, parent, educator, or family who may be struggling with the financial realities of college. Then ask yourself: What conversation forced you to grow up faster than you expected?

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