After years of struggling with overwhelming student debt and navigating complex loan processes, Charlene Rose from Tampa, Florida, finally achieved loan forgiveness with the expert counseling guidance of Melissa Maguire at Student Debt Solutions. She shares her inspiring story below.
I can still hardly believe it—after years of struggling, navigating countless forms, deadlines, and payment plans, my student loans are finally forgiven. Over $93,000 in debt is gone, and it’s all thanks to the guidance and expertise of Melissa Maguire with Student Debt Solutions. When I first started this journey, I felt completely lost. I had my own federal student loans and Parent PLUS loans from supporting my kids through school. To complicate things further, some of my loans were older FFEL loans, and I had two different loan servicers to deal with. Every time I thought I was making progress, I’d hit another roadblock: confusing repayment plans, deadlines I didn’t know existed, or changes in servicer policies. From day one, Melissa didn’t just explain what I needed to do—she walked me through every step. She helped me consolidate my loans in a way that preserved my eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) and got me into the right income-driven repayment plans. She reminded me to renew those plans every year and made sure every action I took kept me on track. There were times when I wanted to give up. Financial challenges added stress to an already overwhelming situation. But Melissa didn’t let me fall behind—she helped me navigate every hurdle. When the government announced the IDR waiver in 2021, she made sure I knew about it and acted quickly to document my 10 years of public service. That final piece of paperwork, submitted just before the deadline, was what sealed my forgiveness. Without Melissa, I don’t think I would have ever reached this point. She understood the complexities of my situation—balancing Parent PLUS loans, my own educational debt, FFEL loans, and PSLF requirements. She helped me stay on top of everything, even when I felt like I couldn’t. Today, I feel like I have a fresh start. I can finally focus on my future, my family, and my work in the nonprofit sector without the constant weight of student loans holding me back. To anyone feeling overwhelmed by their student debt, I can only say this: don’t try to do it alone. There is help, and it can change your life. Thank you for helping me achieve what I once thought was impossible. — Charlene
Student Debt Solutions provides various resources, tools, and expert support to help you identify the best repayment options and plan ahead. Whether you need guidance on repayment plans, tools to estimate monthly payments, or assistance understanding your eligibility for forgiveness programs, SDS has you covered. Log in now to explore your options.
