Once upon a time, a university degree was a golden ticket that guaranteed you a job, a salary, and maybe even a sense of superiority at family gatherings. But the world has changed, and now those pieces of paper are stacked so high they’re practically wallpaper.

One graduate learned this the hard way. She went to a prestigious university, racked up $83,000 in debt, and still had to claw her way into a non-graduate job by starting as a temp. Her sister, who skipped university altogether, found steady work without the crushing loans. Enter their aunt, who is a child-free London professional who treats higher education like gospel. At every reunion, she lectures the sister about how a degree would open doors.

This time, though, the graduate had had enough. She calmly told her aunt that her degree was useless, she was tens of thousands in debt, and her sister at least had a job. Cue the stunned silence.