An Indian woman based in San Francisco, United States, has gone viral after revealing how she managed to repay $100,000 (about ₹80 lakh) student loan within one year.
Sakshi, who moved abroad to pursue her master’s degree, shared her experience in a video that has gone viral on the internet.
Determined to avoid burdening the family
“I paid off my loan of $100,000 a year, that’s about 80 million, when I first borrowed the money for my master’s degree in the US. And I knew one thing: I didn’t want the burden to be on my parents,” she said.
She explained that financial pressure shaped her decision from the very beginning.
“I moved to the US to be with my parents with great hope, but also with great pressure. Taking the loan was not a small thing for me. I knew from the very beginning that I wanted to pay it off as quickly as possible, because I didn’t want the stress to be on my family for years,” she added.
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The loan remained a constant problem
Sakshi said the responsibility remained with her throughout her studies and early career.
“That thought stayed with me throughout: my two years of master’s, the year after I graduated, when I was applying for internships, figuring out life in a new country, trying to build some stability for myself. This student loan was always in the back of my mind.”
Internships and support made a difference
She credited her career opportunities and extra work for helping pay off the loan.
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“I was really grateful to intern at Amazon, which helped me a lot because it paid really well. I was also a research assistant and that income helped me as well,” she said.
However, she emphasized that she did not achieve this alone.
“I also want to be very clear that I didn’t do it alone. My family was a huge source of strength for me. And my boyfriend, who is now my fiancé, was also a huge support for me throughout that year.”
Emotional strength was also decisive
Sakshi highlighted the mental strain associated with such a large debt.
“When you’re carrying around so much anxiety around money, it helps not only to have an income, but to have people around you who keep reminding you that you’re going to be okay.”
A disciplined lifestyle is the key to success
She added that her life during this period was far from extravagant.
“It wasn’t glamorous because I wasn’t investing a lot of money, I wasn’t making any financial moves, I wasn’t living a polished life. Mostly I was just trying to stay disciplined, do well, make good money and get that loan off my shoulders.”
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Reaction on social networks
The video drew praise from viewers online. Many users praised her determination and discipline.
One user wrote: “Congratulations! Inspiring journey Sakshi,” while another commented: “I’m glad you made it. Huge congrats! Just keep going from here. All the best!”
(Disclaimer: This report is based on user generated content from social media. Livemint has not independently verified and does not endorse these claims.)
