Growing up in Rhode Island in a family of teachers, I always felt I could make the world a better place by helping kids. Now I get to do that every day, teaching social studies at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C.

I love my job. I love watching my students transform into citizens who are engaged in their city and democracy. I love hearing from parents that because of my class, their child is now talking about current events and sharing their thoughts about politics at the dinner table.

A few years ago, I decided it was time to find a way to further develop my teaching skills. But I didn’t want to take time off from teaching, and I knew that going to school for my master’s degree at night would take my energy and focus away from my students. I was accepted into one of the most respected teaching programs in the country, Teachers College, Columbia University. At Teachers College, I was able to earn my master’s degree in social studies education over three consecutive summers.

Even though I was still working full time, I graduated from the program with $37,000 in student loans. That’s a hefty load of debt to carry on a teacher’s salary in Washington. I’m not alone, though. Many of my colleagues have racked up huge student loan debts improving their teaching skills. And many of us are being forced to put off big life decisions because of this debt. For me, I’d like to be able to buy a home and plant solid roots here in Washington, but it’s hard to see how I can save enough to make that dream possible with this debt burden.

On top of our debt, many of us are locked into extraordinarily high interest rates. My loans have a current interest rate of more than 6 percent, and I will pay more than $11,000 in interest on top of the principal. I’ve paid my bills on time. With my payment history in today’s market, I would be able to refinance a car or a home loan to a lower rate. Yet I do not have this option for my student loans.

Congress can act now to provide relief to those of us being squeezed by a mountain of student loan debt compounded by high interest rates. Last week, I testified before a Senate committee and urged Congress to provide relief to those of us struggling under huge student loan debt by passing Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s bill to allow us to refinance our loans at a lower rate.

It’s a no-brainer. Americans should be able to refinance student loan debt the same way we can with a mortgage or a car loan. This would provide immediate relief to millions of student borrowers, put more money into the economy and give young people like me a fighting shot at achieving the American dream.

This issue doesn’t only affect me on a personal financial level; it affects my students as well. It’s graduation season. Many of my students will be the first in their families to attend college. Others have worked hard and been admitted to the nation’s top colleges and universities, but will be unable to attend because of costs, unless they take out huge loans. I don’t want them to have to begin their lives crushed under a mountain of student debt. I don’t want them to be locked into high interest rates that multiply their financial burden. I don’t want them to have to navigate a confusing and complicated loan process where the true cost of this debt is never fully explained and there’s nobody to turn to with questions. I don’t want them to have to give up on their dream jobs and settle for something just to pay the bills.

The time is now for Congress to act. I fear if they do not, a generation of workers, like myself and my peers, will be too saddled with debt to invest in housing or businesses, to make career choices based on anything other than earning potential, or to achieve the American dream.