Monday, March 3, 2008

Avoiding student debt

It may seem impossible to actually pay your way through school, but there are thousands of college kids across the country that can prove that it isn’t. While many parents do choose to help their kids attend school, some cannot, and others won’t. For incoming freshmen who aren’t receiving financial assistance from mom and dad, the thought of owing thousands of dollars in student loans can be daunting. Besides the obvious financial benefit of working in school, there are many intangible benefits that can be gained by joining the workforce. Working or even interning in school helps you develop confidence in your strengths, while revealing your weaknesses in a way that allows you to learn from them and build up your skills.
In order to truly minimize your student loans, you may have to reconsider the institution that you have selected. Unless you have a full-tuition scholarship, there are few colleges that are as inexpensive as your local community school. Some private colleges can run you as much as $800 per credit hour. In contrast, a community school can cost as little as $60 per credit hour. The difference is astounding and the amount you can save should lead you to seriously consider the community school option. For the most part, college is what you make it. Students who choose to attend a community school for the first two years before moving to a 4 year university can be just as successful as those who attend a private university. Success is yours for the taking.
This is my answer to avoiding debut, like this person did she, as a college student, it can be tough to make ends meet and succeed in classes. But you make it through, and once you graduate and get a job, life is much much less complicated. Organization was the key for me and outlining my priorities was equally important. I worked while earning a double major and was able to pay my bills in addition to gaining experience that helped me obtain the job that I am currently in.

The dangers of gambling

Gambling is driven by and subsists on greed. For this reason, the activity is morally bankrupt from its very foundation. Gambling is also an activity which exploits the vulnerable the young, the old, and those susceptible to addictive behaviors. Further, gambling entices the financially disadvantaged classes with the unrealistic hope of escape from poverty through instant riches, thus ultimately worsening the plight of our poorest citizens. Also, gambling undermines the work ethic. It is based on the premise of something for nothing, a concept that sanctions idleness rather than industriousness, slothfulness instead of initiative.
Legalized gambling creates gambling addicts. An abundance of research and expert testimony demonstrates that as gambling expands, so does the number of those with serious gambling problems. Millions more Americans have developed devastating gambling addictions over the last few years as a direct result of gambling's rapid proliferation. Further, these newly created addicts are the lifeblood of the industry.
These are why reasons why gambling is so dangerous. Gambling breeds crime. Communities that welcome gambling also welcome an increase in crime. Recent history in communities ranging from Atlantic City to Deadwood, South Dakota, to the Mississippi Gulf Coast indicates that the sheer number of crimes skyrockets in an area once gambling is permitted. Much of this is attributed to the newly created gambling addicts who, in desperation, turn to crime to finance their addiction.