The author reflects on her journey from a childhood surrounded by blue-collar families, where attending college seemed revolutionary, to becoming a first-generation college graduate and marketing professional. She had hoped to help her daughters pay for college, but a financially devastating divorce made that impossible. Struggling with bankruptcy, foreclosure, and a stagnant income, she finds it difficult to support her children, who now face higher living and tuition costs than she did. Despite feeling guilty, she provides emotional and practical support, focusing on building her daughters’ financial literacy and guiding them through the college financial aid process.
