In the summer of 2022, New America managed focus groups with almost 50 borrowers from across the country who reported holding federal student debt and defaulting on their loans before the COVID-19 pandemic. Focus group participants felt hopeless about their student loans, and they had good reason to feel this way. They entered the default system, which damaged their finances and eroded their economic security. Before they defaulted, many did not receive the benefits promised by higher education and were poorly served by a complex student loan repayment system, experiences that contributed to ongoing financial instability. Even though defaulting on a student loan is a worst-case scenario for borrowers, there is much we do not know about outcomes for those who default, and even less is known about borrowers' experiences in and perceptions of default. This report seeks to fill some of these knowledge gaps by providing a narrative about why borrowers defaulted, the barriers they faced while in default, and how they attempted to bring their loans back into good standing. Current and historic failures in the default system continue to damage vulnerable families' finances, and this analysis also underscores the need for additional relief for those who have been trapped in default.