The Crumbled U.S. Department of Education and Its Detrimental Affect on My College Experience
Jun 29 '06 (Updated Jul 05 '06)
The Bottom Line Bottom lines don't always make a decision or word final.
College is supposed to be a place for higher learning--a place where students can come together as one and learn about the world, gain job experience and complete their degrees simultaneously, while still enjoying the freedoms of adulthood.
supposed to be.
When I first started coming to school back in 2001, I truly enjoyed every minute of my experience--not only could I take the courses that were most beneficial for my degree, but it was also a time where learning was unbound and had no limitations whatsoever. Ahh, the good 'ole days when mom was around and could take care of me.
But those days are over.
In the past several years, I've seen a massive degradation of the quality of my experience, due to a plethora of different reasons, including but not limited to, rising tuition, rising gas prices, rising cost of living expenses, no increase in income, financial aid cuts, enduring extra for more bills, increased responsibility as part of living, and dealing with an unsupporting father.
This makes the long story so short that it almost seems emotionless, doesn't it?
It's too bad that nobody seems to care about these changes in my life other than myself. The people who do truly care can't do anything to help. Those who can change my situation, like the grand, fine, overly supportive people at the U.S. Department of Education, sit in their grandiose mahogany desks and stare at their gold-trimmed ceilings and do nothing!
Sure, when college started for me, grants were at an all-time high. In fact, after tuition was charged to my account, I would end up with an $1,100 check to pay for car insurance and books and have spending money leftover!
Not a bad way to go through an educational career, eh?
But now, tuition has skyrocketed so much at my university that full financial aid, including federal Pell Grants along with CAP grants do NOT even pay that off! That's right--I'm receiving over $2,500 a semester and it's still not enough to pay for tuition.
What's my next option, you say? Where's my father in all this? Why can't he help you with the costs? Do you live with him? Can you take out a loan that your parents pay back? Do you have any bills that you pay every month? What do you pay for?
The answers to those questions in order are, non-committal, he blows his money on drugs, I live with my uncle and have lived separate from my dad for two years because he lost his trailer when I was 21 because he couldn't stop buying drugs and I had to move out, so now NO he obviously can't handle his money and shouldn't take out a loan, and yes, I pay for nearly all expenses on my own every month, including gas, clothing, food, car insurance, internet bill, rent, hygiene items, and entertainment items.
So now, you've probably figured out my dad's a drug addict who can't keep his own money in check.
By golly, Aaron! You sure sound like an independent student to me. You can't rely on your father, and shouldn't have to when it comes to living on your own!
Nope. Not so fast. The U.S. Department of Education says any student under 24 who is currently in college must report their parents income, regardless of whether they live with them or receive any financial contributions from their parents. Even if they do drugs, give you no money a month, or have no desire to want to take responsibility for their children.
So, I'm a dependent student. Dependent upon who, you ask? I don't know either. Well---actually, I do.....MYSELF!!
I applied for independency back in April of 2004 at my university; they denied my request because somehow I left the impression that although the situation with my father was bad, it seemed hopeful they would turn around.
They've lived with my father for 21 years; they know about his massive alcohol and drug use, they are psychic to the abuse my mother went through living with him, they are omnipotently designed to perceive the damage done to my childhood through it all. They know everything. They know more than I do about my own life. The decision they make about my life is their own, not mine.
They know about his absence in my teenage years, how he never played ball with me, never offered to take me places in public, never told me about relationships, never wanted to keep up on child support, never wanted to do anything but sleep in everyone else's house and snort powder. Never, never, never.
I'm so glad the U.S. Department of Education is watching out for me. They know what's best for me, and are doing everything they can to ensure I make it in this world.
I am currently trying to get a Section 8 apartment, because I'm still living with my uncle. I've had mental abuse from him when his daughter decided to drop out of school for getting in trouble after writing sexual letters to another girl. She said she came into contact with a homosexual spirit and thus my uncle tried to make me feel guilty from it. Perfect living situation there. I love being persecuted for my sexuality!
I want to get out on my own--I'm 23 years old. The U.S. Department of Education says I have to be 24. May I ask what other numbers were in the magic hat? I happen to like the number 37 myself. Put that one in there for the next drawing.
Back to being serious if just for a moment. I'll try not to compete with the U.S. D.o.E. on that one, but we'll see.
My situation has (in my honest opinion) nearly crippled my mental health at times. I am currently receiving mental therapy and am taking anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills. No, the D.o.E. hasn't given me the suicide bug. But therein lies the problem--they don't realize the situation I've been in for the past three years has actually ledto this extreme stress that I'm currently going through. So, instead of trying to help me out and change my situation, they keep declining my requests for independency, and I keep swallowing Lexapro. It's quite the numbing combination, I assure you.
So back to the original picture. I had first started going to college being in a happy and wonderfully delightful situation. Now, with rising costs of everything and having no support from my father financially, and no support from my family with my sexuality, my dream to fulfill my college degree is going straight down the drain. I'm still living with my uncle and can't move out until I turn 24, unless I get my decision overturned.
What does this country really care about? Money? I wonder--even the representative on the phone from Financial Aid today wondered why I wanted independence, because I already qualify for maximum financial aid. These folks just don't realize I'm not in it for profit or for the money. I want out of my situation, and move on my own. I can't do that, because the great U.S. Department of Education won't let me live.
****UPDATE---JULY 5TH, 2006****
After putting in a second appeal to my university, I have had my first letter reversed. Thank God and all that is holy---I NOW HAVE MY INDEPENDENCE as a student, but more importantly, a human being!
This is the best news I've received in years. Now I know that nothing can stop me, and I have responsibility for no one but myself. I'm ready to take on life's challenges, no matter what they are, because I know that through it all, I can and will conquer anything that stands in my way!
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Epinions.com ID:
imprimis2
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Location: Kentucky, USA
Reviews written: 127
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About Me:
You can be happy using your brain, but you're smart when you use your heart.
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