my $213,000 student loan journey.

In May 2017, I graduated with a doctorate in pharmacy;  and a mountain of student loans. 

I was proud of my accomplishment after four years of hard work, but underneath the pride was fear. I owed over $180,000, had no job lined up, and my balance seemed to grow by hundreds of dollars every single day. 

The anxiety was constant. For a long time, I told myself I’d die with these loans because I couldn’t imagine ever paying them off on a single income.

But over the years, I made some big changes:

• I discovered the debt free community and went all in.
• Paid off my consumer debt using Dave Ramsey’s baby steps.
• Knocked out $34K of high-interest Grad PLUS loans during the COVID forbearance.
• Built my savings, invested in my 401k, HSA, and Roth IRA.
• Moved back home in 2024 to put 60% of my income toward debt payoff.
  

Along the way, I also discovered the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) movement. This community really proved that no matter the age financial independence was possible, with smart planning and small sacrifices. I’m not chasing early retirement but my focus is on Coast F.I. I plan on building enough investments now so my future grows on autopilot while I enjoy life today.

Now, I’m down to my last $53K. I am consumer debt free and committed towards aggressively paying off my student loans over the next 15 months..

I’m determined to be debt free:

• I dream of traveling the world without financial worry.
• I want to become an outrageous giver, helping others in ways my parents never could.
• And I want to leave a legacy (not just money, but impact) that outlives me.
  

Debt has been part of my story for years, but it won’t be the ending. And if you’re walking this road too, know that you’re not alone. We can build freedom and abundance, one payment at a time.