A May 2020 graduate of Ouachita Baptist University, Sadie holds a B.S. in psychology and a B.A. in sociology. She currently works at Pediatrics Plus in Arkadelphia while pursuing her master's degree in applied behavioral analysis therapy.

What kind of loans did you take out?

I took out federal loans while in school to cover what scholarships didn’t.

Why did you take out student loans?

It wasn’t ever really a question about loans. My family couldn’t afford to help pay for all of my tuition, so we used whatever we could get from the federal government and then just added a little out of pocket each semester. Scholarships helped out with a huge portion of my financial situation, and loans were the other part.

How did your student loans factor into your budget as a college student?

My parents helped cover the extra fees that the loans didn’t cover. I was responsible for any extra things I wanted to be involved in, so I worked every opportunity I had. I did work-study, so that helped contribute to my school stuff, but it didn’t give me extra money to spend. My job was an hour away, so it definitely made handling my course load a little more difficult.

What advice would you give to students considering taking out loans?

For me, it just seemed like a necessary evil and kind of motivated me to finish college with a good degree and get a good job that would make good money. I knew I was starting my adult life off in debt and was determined to get out of that as quickly as I could. I have been diligent in paying off the interest.