My Deep Thoughts on Debt

I am very grateful to have parents who support me in whatever I choose to do. They are paying for my tuition at Santa Clara University, as well as my brother's at the University of Oregon. I babysit a few times a week and make good spending money, but my parents are paying for pretty much everything. I know that after graduation I will do what I can to pay them back for the loans they have taken out.

Debt is a word I try not to use. I have an internship with Target this summer and I hope to work there after graduation. I am lucky to have a job lined up while many are suffering in these tough economic times. I didn't realize that going to a private university would cost my parents so much. After freshman year, I moved off campus to save some money. I have a slight problem with saving money, so I'm trying to work on that. I had to open a savings account and I force myself to put in $10 a week, its all about making little changes.

Right now I don't feel too worried about the future, but after reading this article about other college students and recent grads, I'm a little nervous about paying off the loans. I was planning on moving back to San Francisco to live in an apartment, but we'll see if my budget allows me to do that.

Call a Cab in the City

San Francisco has some of the best public transportation around. With Cal Train and Bart to get you into the city and Muni or the various streetcars and buses to get you around within, it's easy to plan an evening out in Golden Gate City, even if you're coming from Santa Clara.

But, if you're headed to the Sunset or North Beach this winter, you may want to call a cab to travel to your destination quickly and warm. Try the Yellow Cab company: (415) 333-3333 or for a more environmently friendly option, call Green Cab: (415) 626-GREEN.

The city is literally crawling with taxi drivers, so keep your eye out, check the corner of the Cal Train station at 4th & King, or call a cab in advance.

Bay Area College Weekends

Boredom is never justifiable for college students living in the Bay Area. A quick trip via CalTrain or BART can get a south or east bay student to San Francisco in under two hours.

Meditate in Golden Gate Park's Japanese Tea Gardens

Or head east and wander the flea markets of Chinatown, where the gifts are cheap and the fortunes are lucky. San Fran's Chinatown is the largest outside of Asia.

For a day trip, hit up the Monterey Bay Aquarium a few hours south.

The Bay Area's possibilities are endless. For more suggestions, check out these Bay Area Attractions:

• Bay Area Traveler


• Things To Do in California


• Bay Area Back Pages