Lando, first there are many of us on this board that have defaulted on student loans. I was young and dumb, and didn't realize the implications of defaulting on them, put I eventually payed back the money through payments.
1)Do not get down on yourself. We are here to listen and to help and do not give up.
2) Student loans do not fall into SOL's and there is no way to just not pay them.
3) Yes, call them up and see what they have to offer, and on top of it all, just set up a payment plan. Mine were not private and they were through the state agency, I dont' really remember the terms as it was a long time ago, but I know that they let me make payments and they took the whole thing off my history. I think I do remember that they wanted more than I was able to pay, I and I just told them "Look- I can't pay more than XX- and they agreed to that."
4)Trust me, you will be very relieved once you set up a payment plan and begin paying. It make take a while, but a burden will be lifted as you will not be dodging this issue.
Let us know.