People Helping People

by: Michael Shulman

Why am I passionate about the SuccessFunding cause? Until recently, the topic of student debt was not one I knew much about or cared to know much about… As I reread that last sentence, I realize how pretentious I sound. How could I not understand the monumental costs of a college education? The answer is simple: no one ever told me. I am lucky enough to be raised by a loving family who supports me unconditionally. They find happiness in paving my path to success in life. When the idea of college appeared on the horizon, it was a no brainer. The price tag never came into the discussion. For my parents, the only thing talking about the price would do is discourage me. They kept me in the dark about how steep college tuitions were to avoid my worrying about things that were out of my control. The expression ‘ignorance is bliss’ has never rung so true. My education was paid for in full by my parents, and that’s the way it was. When I talked to my old man about this a few months ago, I saw a side of him I rarely do. I came home to visit with the family and we got to talking. In a way that only he could, he explained to me that the way I pay him back is to do the same for my kids someday just as his parents had done for him. As he spoke, I saw a side of him which I rarely do. There is nothing more beautiful than people helping people. Whether it is family, friends, or complete strangers, we can all help turn dreams into reality. Michael Shulman is a senior finance major with a concentration in risk management at Southern Methodist University. He serves as a member of SuccessFunding's student advisory board.

Life's Asterisk

by: Paige Witthar

We often tell children they can do anything they want in their lives. However, there is an asterisk we forget to include--* with an education.  Higher education refines the existing talents and gifts of students; it is the foundation for careers and gives wings to students' dreams. But college is just as much a learning experience about life as it is a learning experience in a lecture hall. It exposes students to people, situations, and ideas they wouldn’t otherwise encounter. I have matured in countless ways during my three years at SMU: I have friends with backgrounds very different than my own, and I’ve slowly been introduced to adult responsibilities like paying rent and living courteously with other people. Additionally, I’ve become a better collaborator and learned to become my own advocate. I see the world through a higher quality lens because of my undergraduate education. I believe in SuccessFunding because it places power in the hands of students. It frees students from the burden of excessive student debt and provides them with greater freedom to make their educational decisions. SuccessFunding empowers students to chase their dreams using the tools they gained in college. Student debt turns these tools into heavy weights. SuccessFunding also offers fans, or donors, freedom that traditional forms of giving do not. Fans can choose whom their money goes to and donations aren’t absorbed by administrative costs. The traditional depiction of a donor is someone who gives millions of dollars to have their name on a building or an endowment. A fan can see the difference encouragement and a $10, $20, or $50 donation have in the life of a student. Education nurtures Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Debt hinders these Rights. SuccessFunding assures that education will prevail. Paige Witthar is a senior marketing major with an entrepreneurship concentration at Southern Methodist University. She works as a marketing intern for SuccessFunding and is a member of our inaugural SMU beta group.