[microcolonel]

Yeah, sorry for not making it clearer at the outset. I'm coming from the perspective of somebody who is building a product to (among other things) help people prevent household debt from ruining their lives (starting here in Canada); and I've given out a lot of loans in the family to prevent debt spirals, so I definitely feel for people in this position.

At the same time, my personal experience is completely different. I was difficult in primary school, probably because of family issues. I dropped out effectively before high school, and started doing contract work (and eventually full time work at 17) on software. I got my start based on little more than natural confidence and many hours of reading Wikipedia and StackOverflow from about age 8, eventually on my first personal computer, which I bought at 14 with about 95% of the money (I always begged for cash instead of toys and hometown giftshop trinkets) I'd received in my life. After biking about two hours a day just for work (rain or shine, usually rain it seemed), I decided to leave home to be closer to work and farther from my mother, and I was lucky enough to have a friend who would let me crash on his couch for a few months.

Even with the rather extreme subsidies here in Ontario, I couldn't really afford to take time to go to school; I could now, but I probably don't need to. That's basically why I feel that it would be unjust if I moved to the U.S. (I'm a citizen) and that started immediately with paying off other people's loans that the federal government gave out like candy, for something I couldn't even afford to buy if it were free.

[isbjorn16]

Side note: I was given my first student loan when I was 17. I was the only signatory.

I'm still not sure how that was allowed; at least it's an amusing anecdote, though.