<prompt> Human: Started out with 218,000 in student loans. Have been making 1700 payments monthly for 6-7 years now, with an average interest rate around 3.5-4. Recently looked at what is left and it is 141,000. Im not sure if I should be encouraged at the big dent I made or discouraged that Im not even half way there. Thinking about how much of those payments went to paying interest is really frustrating. I hope as I near the half way point the amount going to interest vs. principal will shift more in my favor. Any advice or comments appreciated.  <response>: To put this into perspective, 218k is a mortgage for a lot of people and they tackle that over 30 years or longer. Good on you for putting a huge dent into your principal balance in just a few short years. 