Amanda Lynn Tully, 37, moved to Prague Less than a year after graduation, he was left with $65,000 in federal student loans and no payments in more than seven years.
She grew up in Colorado and thought a college degree would give her a better life. Instead, she completed two degrees but still couldn’t find a job and faced a mountain of debt she didn’t know what to do with.
With 7.7 million Americans currently behind on their federal student loans, Tully’s case is not unusual, but after the New York Times profiled her, it has become one of the highest-profile examples of the growing student debt crisis.
There are 5 things to know About Amanda Lynn Talley:
She grew up in state custody
Amanda Lynn Tully had a rocky start in life. She spent her teenage years as a ward in Colorado and believed college was her best chance for a better future.
Also read: Annie Ramos: 5 things to know about U.S. Army Sergeant Matthew Blank’s wife being detained by ICE
She earned an advanced degree but struggled to find a job
She received her BA in Art History from Metropolitan State University Denver In 2017, she earned a master’s degree in historic preservation from the University of Oregon. But after graduation, she couldn’t find a job in her field and was left with $65,000 in federal student loans. “I was never financially stable because I was never taught to be financially stable.” she told the New York Times.
She only pays $60 a month and still walks away
Under an income-based repayment plan, Tully’s monthly payments would be just $60, which would eliminate her remaining debt after 20 years. Many people think $60 is affordable, but for Tully, it’s not just about the money. She called the payments “psychologically taxing” and said, “These payments don’t even pay off the interest, so it’s frustrating.”
Also read: Stephen Bowen: 5 things you need to know about Nancy Meyer Bowen’s husband in murder case
She moved to Prague and stopped paying off her loan
Less than a year after graduating, Tully moved to Prague for an internship and stopped paying back her loan. She hasn’t made a payment in more than seven years. She has been working as an e-learning content developer in Prague since 2019 and describes herself as “willing to work” on LinkedIn. According to the New York Postshe has no immediate plans to return to the United States and is largely debt-free abroad.
Her story is part of a larger problem
Tully is not alone. More than 40 million Americans are carrying federal student debt, with 7.7 million in default, a record high, according to the agency. Ministry of Education. Some borrowers move abroad to avoid debt collectors and live a better life, even with lower wages.
