I am a hard working single mother of 3. In May of 2007 I will be receiving my Master of Science in Nursing degree (MSN), and will take the National Certification exam to practice as an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) in the field of psychiatric mental health as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS). I choose this major instead of the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) because of my strong desire to serve those who are most in need. However, unfortunately, the business of helping those who need you most seems to be the business in which you make the least amount of money. I have survived for the past 2 years of full-time grad school on student loans. I have worked part-time as an RN in order to make ends meet, but I have always needed to compensate with loans. I am very proud of what I have accomplished considering that statistics gathered ny Planned Parenthood shows that only about 1.5% of women who have a child between the ages of 15 and 17 receive a college education by the age of 30. I received my associate’s degree in Registered Nursing in 2002 (at age 28) and my BSN in 2004 (at age 30). I am now 32 and have been attending school full-time for a total of 7 years now. Both myself and my children, (now ages 14, 13 &7) have sacrificed a great deal along the way, but I believe that we have learned many valuable lessons about the importance of determination and perseverance. I have funded every penny of my education with student loans, and now I will need to begin to repay my debts. I have, and will continue to use my education to help many people who might otherwise go without help. I extend my compassion, knowledge and caring to those who are severely and persistently mentally ill and or suffer from drug and alcohol addiction. My federal loan debt totals approximately $77,000.00, (and is thankfully low interest), and my private loan debt is now in excess of $80,000.00 and unfortunately is around 8-10% interest. It is very hard for me to look at that total in writing! I feel a heavy burden, and now the reality of how I am going to manage to pay these payments in addition to the mortgage, car, insurance, utilities, etc.; not to mention the ever-increasing cost of raising children.
Is anyone out there able to help me find a way to get through this????
PLEASE HELP!!

 

I am a single mom of 3 great kids, and Registered Nurse. I am 32 years old. In May of 2007 I will receive my MSN in the field of psychiatric mental health Advanced Practice Nursing. I am kind, compassionate, giving and very driven. I am hoping this web site will help me find a way to live through my student loan debt! I am very humble, and I know that there are many who are much more in need than I, and I hope to be one of those who help those people!