I realize paying student loans to go to school is a recipe for debt and disaster

So I took out or rather my parents took out student loans for me and are helping me pay them back and I didn’t even finish university ten years ago I dropped out after my junior year which was a dumb mistake my loans were about $15,000-$20,000 for one year and I transferred from a community college. My parents are helping my sister pay back her student loans from college/university and she has two bachelors in criminal justice and psychology $70,000-$80,000 dollars in debt . So realizing what I do now, I would have worked on a vocational trade skill I could learn online that would have led to a temporary career with a certificate or diploma especially remote flexible jobs which would lead to a career with a decent wage paying better than unskilled minimum wage jobs for students. A certification that no more than say $2,000-$8,000 dollars so it could be paid out of pocket and some programs have monthly installments payment options . Then once I paid off the course and certification costs ( which would take about a year or two maximum) , I would work part time and go to school part time also online. Asynchronous, self paced, or competency based distance learning would fit my independent learning style best. The whole “college experience” thing is just a bunch of bull crap nowadays and I was a commuter. I mean some schools are excellent and have full ride scholarships and grants for promising students and of course internships are a career booster. But staying in dorms, some colleges are known party schools for drinking, smoking, recreational drugs, and rampant sex. That’s how to destroy your life in college 101. If you are not taking out student loans then the internships and studying abroad options of universities are a great idea. Personally I think it’s smarter to live at home while in school and save your money. ( If the school is in commutable distance if you are better suited to learning in person)My sister lived off campus and and while it helped her grow as a person, a lot of rent to sustain her ( she helped by working two part time jobs while going to school). I will be working with vocational digital skills this time to make money and I will make sure the rest of my student loans are paid off. Then I will go to university part-time online I can be motivated to finish that way. My community college credits may have expired and I may have to start again but that’s ok. My education is not something to be rushed this time. I am all for higher education and believe no one can take your education away from you and I think university is great to expand your horizons. But taking out loans to pay for university, college, community college or trade school is foolish and makes no sense in long term financial freedom planning. I would strongly discourage the younger crowd from taking out student loans. College does not have to be completed in two to four years its fine if you take longer if you need to. If you can afford full time on a scholarship or grants then go ahead. Debt makes you a slave to staying in jobs you hate, makes achieving life goals and milestones even longer to take, and just puts you at a disadvantage. My sister went to school and is substitute teaching for a job to temporarily make ends meet. The market is saturated in some fields and my sister wants an employer to help pay for her masters degree so she doesn’t end up in more debt. She is waiting on the police academy to hire her and do her Massachusetts civil service exams. Why should a college graduate have to work a job unrelated to their field when they have worked so hard to get a qualification? Her friend who is 30 has only a high school diploma went to a vocational high school and has his own electrician company and is a firefighter part time and is making a killing. I didn’t finish school so I can’t expect the same benefits as a college graduate. But my sister has earned every right to a decent career. And employers are way too picky nowadays. I’m going to finish school as an older student but no way am I taking loans out again. They are to be forgiven only when you’re dead or in select industries.