A Rare and Needed Moment in the Media
Today, I just want to say thank you to Good Morning America.
In a world where almost every headline about student loans is about debt, delay, or despair, you decide to highlight something truly rare — a positive story about people who actually paid off their student loans.
That might sound simple, but in today’s media climate, celebrating student loan success stories is revolutionary. It offers a much-needed balance to the constant news about the massive debt crisis in the U.S. In fact, data confirms that student loan debt is a major issue impacting millions of American households, making positive breakthroughs all the more important.
My Letter to the Department of Education
A few months ago, I personally wrote to Linda McMahon, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education.
I asked one question:
“Why are there no positive stories about Americans who have paid off their student loans?”
I received a professional response explaining that federal ethics laws prevent the Department from promoting educational materials or specific success stories.
I respected the answer — but I couldn’t help thinking about how powerful those positive stories could be.
Because for every borrower who struggles, there’s another who succeeds.
And those student loan winners deserve the spotlight too.
Good Morning America Gave Borrowers Hope Again
That’s why I want to thank Good Morning America for giving Americans a story that finally shows the other side of the student loan experience — the debt-free journey winners.
When I saw that segment, it reminded me of the very message behind my book, The Student Loaners: Are You a Winner or Are You a Loser?
Promoting “The Student Loaners: Are You a Winner or Are You a Loser?”
The truth is, paying off student loans isn’t just a financial milestone — it’s a mental and emotional victory. It represents years of sacrifice, late nights, side jobs, budgeting, and discipline. It’s a journey where financial knowledge is power, a theme explored in depth in my resources, because not having financial knowledge is worse than not having money. A story like this deserves to be told just as loudly as the tales of hardship.
The Student Loaners: Are You a Winner or Are You a Loser?
In this book, Charles A. Chadwick Jr. compares the journey of mastering student loans to a strategic basketball game. Learn how to approach your debt like a player on the court, focusing on your defense, offense, and follow-through to secure your financial victory.
Why Positive Stories Matter for the Debt-Free Journey
When you only hear about failure, you start believing success isn’t possible. The constant drumbeat of debt news can take a heavy toll on mental health, which is why understanding the psychological cost of student loan debt is crucial to recovery and motivation.
But when a national show like Good Morning America shows that real people are winning the debt game, something shifts.
- Students begin to see that paying off debt isn’t impossible — it’s achievable.
- Parents begin to believe their sacrifices were worth it.
- And society starts to value financial responsibility again.
It’s not about bragging — it’s about balance.
For every negative headline, we need one that says:
“Someone did it. Someone made it. And so can you.”
Lessons from “The Student Loaners” Playbook
In my book, I compare student loans to a basketball game. You can’t control the referee (the system), but you can control your defense, offense, and follow-through.
Winning means showing up every day, even when you’re down.
It means adjusting your play, not quitting the game. For anyone looking for concrete steps and a new playbook to tackle their education costs, remember the resources from the Student Loaners Movement: A New Playbook to Break College Debt.
That’s why seeing Good Morning America celebrates those who finished strong means so much. They’re showing that yes, the student loan journey can be hard — but it’s still winnable.
Actionable Steps to Achieve Your Student Loan Victory
Seeing others win should motivate you to refine your own payoff strategy. If you are looking for ways to accelerate your journey to financial independence, consider these steps:
- High-Interest Focus: Target the loan with the highest interest rate first, paying minimums on the rest (the “Debt Avalanche” method).
- Side Income: Use any extra income, bonuses, or side-hustle earnings directly toward your principal balance.
- Refinancing: Research consolidating or refinancing your private loans to a lower interest rate to save thousands over the life of the loan.
The ultimate goal is to reach that point of asking, and confidently answering, the question: Was College Worth It?
A Message to the Media
I challenge more networks, journalists, and influencers to follow Good Morning America’s lead.
Tell the full story not just the struggles, but the successes too.
America needs inspiration right now.
And every borrower who fought through adversity and paid off their loans deserves that recognition.
To Every Student Loaner Out There
If you’re still fighting to pay off your student loans, don’t lose hope.
You’re not alone — and your student loan victory is coming.
Remember:
- Every payment is progress.
- Every sacrifice is setting up your comeback.
- Every story — including yours — can inspire someone else to keep going.
When you win, you don’t just free yourself financially. You prove that victory is still possible in a system that often feels impossible.
So, thank you, Good Morning America, for showing America that winners exist — and that paid off student loans aren’t just newsworthy, they’re necessary inspiration.
FAQs
The media often focuses on the overall student loan crisis because hardship and high-stakes financial struggles attract more attention and engagement. Success stories, while inspiring, are sometimes overlooked in favor of reporting on the widespread problem of massive debt.
Yes. Positive stories provide inspiration and proof of concept. They show struggling borrowers that achieving a debt-free journey is possible, offering hope and actionable strategies that can motivate people to stick to their payoff plans.
The most important step is gaining financial knowledge. Understanding your loan terms, choosing the right repayment strategy (like the Debt Avalanche method), and living within a strict budget are the core actions that lead to a student loan victory.
This is a personal decision, but generally, high-interest loans should be a top priority. Paying off high-interest student debt provides a guaranteed return equal to the interest rate, often a better return than general investment. However, you should always keep a small emergency fund saved up first.
