In the long run, though, Dad was right. He couldn't help me with the financial costs of law school -- that I had to figure out on my own. So, student loans it was and I worked hard to repay all of them.
let's switch out some words as if we are talking about addiction not law school:
in the long run, thought, Dad was right. He couldn't help me with the financial/emotional/physical burden of my addiction - that i had to figure out ON MY OWN. so, rehab/recovery it was and i worked hard to pay my own way and get my own life under control.
we own what we earn. we earn what we want by owning it.