Credit Card Debt on America's College Campuses

Willow was a beautiful, spirited, passionate, and intelligent young girl who seemed to have her whole life mapped out ahead of her. She was enjoying her second year of college and beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. She worked part time as a waitress to help pay her college tuition. She worked hard; often taking on extra shifts to help out others who needed (or just wanted) the time off. On her free weekends she would go home and spend time with her parents and friends. Her smile lit up any room into which she entered. Her laughter pealed through the air like the music of angels. Everyone loved her. Everyone! That is, except for Willow herself.

Like many other college students Willow had gotten in over her head with regard to credit card debt. She didn't mean to and she never wanted to. However, she was very young and the consequences of her actions were simply not clear to her. So one day when the creditors wouldn't stop calling and she could no longer bear the thought of the disappointment she would see in her parents' eyes, Willow hung herself in her dorm room.

Willow was the sister of my son's best friend. She spent a lot of time at our house over the years. She was sweet. She was kind. She was exactly the type of girl you wanted your son to meet and fall in love with. No, she wasn't perfect, but she had so much to offer the world. Her death profoundly affected our whole family. We simply could not believe that such a shinning light had been extinguished. We still feel the loss today.

Young life is too precious to lose.

Credit: Click Art

Copyright: Broderbund