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  Graduate College Debt-Free With These 3 Simple Steps!
 Students who take out student loans are forced to use their salary to make re- payments instead of saving and investing money. Addi- tionally, student loan debt can trap your pockets for 10, 20, 30, or 40+ years, if you don’t have a plan for paying off your debt.
This means that a four- or five-year educational ex- perience can turn into decades of debt, if you don’t have a plan to minimize your student loan liabilities.
But there is good news!
You don’t have to join the debt party. You can take ad- vantage of scholarships, profitable money-making opportunities, and a strate- gic plan that will allow your college education to turn into an asset instead of a long-term liability.
If you or someone you know is on a mission to graduate debt-free, here are 3 steps to get you started:
1. Position Yourself to Graduate Early
The longer it takes for you to get your degree, the
more money it will cost you. Plan ahead. Take classes that count towards college credit in high school, enroll in classes at a community college during the summer after your first year of stud- ies towards a bachelor’s de- gree, and register for more classes every quarter or se- mester. By planning your course curriculum ahead, you’ll be able to finish your degree earlier.
2. Choose a Prof- itable Major
What are the most in-de- mand majors in the market- place? What skills do you need to be relevant and competitive in the job mar- ket or as an entrepreneur? Before you choose your path in college, do your research and calculate the potential return on investment.
Test out different job op- portunities as an intern so you can gain real-world ex- perience and make money that can be used towards your tuition. Remember, if your major isn’t your true passion, you can always take on a minor or another major that reflects the di- rection you want to go in
life3. . Get Involved On Campus
Money is all around you – including on the campus grounds you walk every day. There are typically hun- dreds of student organiza- tions on campus and many are part of arger networks that offer scholarships to students who are actively involved in the community and showcase high leader- ship potential.
These are just a few steps to get you started on your journey towards graduating debt-free. Always talk to a trusted financial coach to help you create a plan that best suits you.
By: Charlene Rhine- hart, an award-win- ning speaker, consultant, and coach who uses digital tech- nologies to share in- spiring stories with the world.
       At Rally For Presidential
 Candidate Joe Biden
 Erica Williams, Miles Harris and Monica Harris were captured in the crowd.
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