What was the reaction of my friend? "You don't take loans?!" Me: "No, I can't." This then turned into how awesome it was that I did not have to take loans! At some point my friend said, "You are so lucky because you don't have to take loans! I do! and they are a lot!" This statement saddened me and made me a little upset.
I was upset to how my friend said I have it better (I am not trying to compare myself to others, but this one did get to me) and how I was not going to have any debt when I graduate from college and so on. What?! I WISH I could take loans and apply for them and do a lot less to pay for college and more importantly, get a job once I graduate and have a future. Graduation to me right now is going to be like the end of all I could and was allowed to do - it is going to be an exciting moment, but it will also be a terrifying moment because I will be unable to do many things.
What my friend did not realize was that such comments hurt me a little. I mean, if I had the chance to not live in the shadows, I would be able to do many things. Privilege is so sneaky, that my friend did not check it before saying that my life is easier for not having to take loans when in fact I cannot take loans even if I need them. Privilege, privilege, so elusive and destructive.
The Honorable P
