From Stressed to Blessed! $200,000 in School Debt to Peace and Provision

Fallon graduated from Baylor University in 2009 with a Masters degree in accounting. But she didn’t need to be a numbers whiz to see she had a huge problem.

“I actually borrowed over 100 grand, about 150 grand in student loan debt,” says Fallon. “And for me it was the amount that had accrued to the principal, the amount of interest that had accrued during that time. That’s when the burden, like, that’s when it really hit me. When I realized I owed over 200 grand, by the time I left school. That’s when I felt, I mean, I don’t even have words for the amount of pressure, stress, hair falling out, from the weight of that number.”

Fallon got a job, but the massive debt was still there. She struggled to pay it down whenever she could.

“I think it was even more stressful too, coming from a background of finance and accounting, knowing what you need to be doing with your money and not being able to do that, you know, every day. I mean, paycheck to paycheck was a good week. I was paycheck to credit card to paycheck. Yeah, there was no, there just wasn’t enough. Just wasn’t enough. It had me in a very, not just physically sick, you know, stress, but in a very bad place emotionally. And even spiritually, like God, ‘Why me, you know, like how am I going to, like how am I going to get out of this?’”

Fallon’s father is a pastor, and she learned about the importance of giving growing up in their church. She decided to give an extra $1000 at her church, after her pastor spoke about the blessings of giving to others.

“It was very specific about sowing a seed and just, I don't remember if it was to get out of your situation or if it was specifically about business, but I knew in that moment that I had to sow it. And I feel like God was like, ‘If you just trust Me and watch what I do in a year,’ and it was pretty much a year from that seed that shifted everything.”

A friend told Fallon about a job opportunity, so she decided to check it out. She started her new job in 2014.

“What had taken me five years and two degrees and a CPA license to earn, I had done that in five months. Another five months, by my tenth month, I actually earned a $50,000 bonus and then the next month I got a $100,000 bonus and was bringing home five figures every month. And really able to get myself back where I needed to be physically, spiritually and financially, and then help others do the same.

Fallon was even able to pay off her credit card debts and her car loan. And when she married DeVon in 2017, they were able to pay for the wedding out of their savings. Today, the couple continues to put God first in all they do. And Fallon plans to pay off the remainder of her student loan within two years.

“So, what was God’s role in this? Every, I mean, it’s laughable now, but every little piece. He was just like wait. Just wait. I’ve got it planned out. All planned out. I know what God will do when you sow and do it from a trusting and believing place, and a trusting and a believing expectant place.”