When I was in high school, I always knew I was going to college. I got decent grades but didn’t really feel passionate about any subject. Out of all the classes, I preferred languages because it felt like a mental escape from the classroom. However, subjects like math, literature, and history just bored me.

Choosing a college major was challenging. I opted for economics, which in France is considered a middle-ground path. It wasn’t as prestigious as medical or law school, nor as abstract as philosophy. Plus, with my dad having lost his job the previous year, the highest state scholarship based on his income really helped. I didn’t have to pay tuition and received about $400 a month. While it wasn’t much, considering I only paid $150 for rent at the university dorm, it covered my food and leisure expenses. Although I was 800 miles away from my family, I still managed to visit often. I passed my first year—not out of love for the subject, but because I hated wasting time and extra effort.

That summer, I applied to the Sorbonne University in Paris and got accepted for my second year. In Paris, I started working at McDonald’s. Contrary to popular belief, I enjoyed it a lot. Our team of students was great, and our boss made the job fun by organizing outings.

Expecting Paris to be more expensive, I continued to work at McDonald’s and retained my scholarship for tuition, which was relatively affordable at around $1,000 per year. Initially, I stayed in a very small room on the 6th floor without an elevator or shower, which my grandparents offered for free. It wasn’t ideal, especially since I had to shower at my parents’ places, but it saved me money.

Eventually, I rented a small studio for about $500 a month, complete with a shower and kitchen. This small improvement brought me immense joy. Looking back, I can’t believe how I lived in such conditions, but gaining independence at 17 with a small income from odd jobs made me feel on top of the world.

In my third year, I completed a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics at the Sorbonne. During that year, I left McDonald’s to join my boss at Häagen-Dazs and scooped ice cream on the Champs-Élysées. I also took on several other gigs: waitressing at Disneyland, telemarketing, working at a sports store during sales, helping my mom at her school, and doing data entry for my aunt. It was a hectic year, and at times, my shifts ended at 2 a.m., with classes starting at 8 a.m. the next morning.

Nearing burnout, I explored options for grad school. I considered business school, which had a tough entrance exam but was reputed to be easier once admitted. There was also an option to have a company sponsor my master’s degree in return for working for them part-time. This setup also meant I’d finally get my weekends back. Determined, I made a study plan and got into one of the top business schools.

My last two years as a student were blissful. I worked 35 hours a week, including classes, for a large blue-chip company that treated me well and covered my $12,000 annual tuition. This seemed like a lot compared to subsidized education, but it was manageable with the company’s support. In my class of 20, many had taken on debt for their first year, but I was sponsored and received about $1,200 a month, almost double my previous income.

Although I lived better during those two years, I maintained a student’s lifestyle. I hosted dinners instead of dining out, sought affordable activities, and traveled inexpensively through camping and couchsurfing. By the end of those five years, I had saved around $30,000. I used $25,000 to invest in a flat that provided $300 in monthly rental income and lived off the rest for a year of travel.

I acknowledge my good fortune, especially compared to students in the US burdened with debt. I don’t think I would have pursued education by incurring debt. If college wasn’t free, I might have started working at a bank and climbed the ranks debt-free. My decision to stay in school was based on its affordability and value, which I couldn’t see in a $150,000 degree.