After the last blog and the last few weeks I decided I needed to get my mind right. I needed to get my focus back on course and I needed to decide if I was going to lay down and take it, or fight at whatever cost.
I really did not want to become a thorn in the side of the financial aid office people and I did not want for my emotions to get in the way and I say or do something that I would regret. Unfortunately, I let this feeling cause me to do absolutely nothing. For fear of acting in an ungodly manner, I chose not to act at all. When I prayed on my situation, God chastened me for this. In my own words, He basically told me that He did not create me to be a punk, falling down and sitting out and allowing fear to dictate what I did or did not do. He let me know in no uncertain terms that He was not going to help me until I got off my butt, opened my mouth and helped myself. "I am your helper, not your servant. I do not do the things that you don't want to do, I do the things that you are unable to do."
So, with that, I fixed my mind, and my heart, and I have attacked this thing head on. I have talked to various people, I have emailed the Department of Education. I have emailed the JSCC financial aid office and I am not through. I have a meeting tomorrow with someone who offers financing for school. I am going to school, I am starting classes on Aug 31 and I am not taking no for an answer. And whether they like it or not they are going to process my financial aid for this semester and pay back whatever is paid out, not wait and start it for next semester.
Monday, August 17
Wednesday, August 12
Financial Aid Blog 3
Ok. it has been a minute, but things have been really crazy.
On to the school business. I applied for financial aid in February, because I knew I wanted to go back to school, (did not know that my company was going to fold at the time though....). So, in May, May 29, 2009 to be exact, after I got news that my layoff would be permanent, I went to an open house at the local community college and gave them all of the information that I had about my unemployment, about my husband's unemployment and our current lack of income so that they could make changes to the FAFSA information from the government to help aid in my going back to school. I talked to my best friend, who also works for the same plant, and encouraged her to go back to school. We registered on the same day in mid june, and I went into the financial aid office and asked if I needed to do anything else, because I hadn't heard anything, and the lady at the front looked up my information in the computer and told me they were still processing my information but that if they needed anything extra they would call or write me and let me know.
That was June. Around the 17th...
My best friend hears from them around July 9, a Thursday. They tell her to bring in all of her unemployment check stubs and pay stubs from this year and tell her that they are going to have to adjust her information. I have not heard from them. No one told me to bring all of that....
So, having not heard anything from them, I go up to the school on July 13th. I inquire about my information and again am told that it is being processed. So I say, "I just want to make sure that my classes will be paid for because I am not working and I do not have the money to pay out of pocket." The lady that I am talking to tells me to come over to her desk and she will pull it up to see what they have. Now remember that I started this process in February, and brought the extra documentation in May. She pulls my information up and says, "well it looks like you made too much money last year to get any financial aid."
PISSED. that is what I was....PISSED!
"Ma'am, I bought new documentation up here in May explaining that since last year my husband had lost his job and I lost mine April of this year. We do not have that same income."
"Oh, well hold on, let me get your file...." She proceeds to go find said file. "Oh, yeah..... I see.... Well.... Let me see....." NONE OF THIS INFORMATION HAD BEEN ENTERED INTO THE COMPUTER. LIVID... i don't care if that is how you spell it or not, it is what I was...... This is July 13th!!!! I brought that information to the office, in person on May 29, 2009!!!!!! That was almost 2 months... oh, but it get so much better.
The lady informs me that my information will have to go before a Financial Aid Officer, who comes in at 10, (it is 8 am), to give a professional judgement and that I should give her a call. I call at 10:15, get voice mail. I call again at 1:30, I get voice mail. I leave a message. I call back Wednesday morning and let this person I know, I called you earlier in the week, I brought information up to the school on May 29, I need to know what is going on. She calls back and lets me know that there is a host of other information that she will need.
She mailed me out a letter that day. I received it on that Friday. It took me till July 30 to track down all of that information, (my 2008 taxes, my husband's last pay stub and separation notice from his job, (from June 28, 2008) my layoff paper, information about my job closing, pay stubs, unemployment information for 2008 and 2009 for my husband and I).
July 29, my friend gets a letter in the mail that her information has been fully processed, she will be be getting financial aid for BOTH Fall and Spring semester, and will have extra money. I have still not received word on my information, it is still being processed. She started this process on June 17th. I started May 29.....
Mad does not even begin to describe how I feel. And I hate that I feel like I do, because when my friend talks about it, I want to be happy with her, (because of course I am happy for her), but I am PISSED because these people have been jerking my chain for so long. I mean... I try not to look like I am in the financial situation that I am because I have been blessed in so many areas of my life. But really, WTH??? Just because I have a husband, (who, by the way, is currently in school) and I don't look like I am struggling, my stuff gets put on the back burner??
That is what this blog is about... Me and my journey back to school, to make a better life for me, my husband and the family we hope to have. I just never thought it would be this difficult.....
On to the school business. I applied for financial aid in February, because I knew I wanted to go back to school, (did not know that my company was going to fold at the time though....). So, in May, May 29, 2009 to be exact, after I got news that my layoff would be permanent, I went to an open house at the local community college and gave them all of the information that I had about my unemployment, about my husband's unemployment and our current lack of income so that they could make changes to the FAFSA information from the government to help aid in my going back to school. I talked to my best friend, who also works for the same plant, and encouraged her to go back to school. We registered on the same day in mid june, and I went into the financial aid office and asked if I needed to do anything else, because I hadn't heard anything, and the lady at the front looked up my information in the computer and told me they were still processing my information but that if they needed anything extra they would call or write me and let me know.
That was June. Around the 17th...
My best friend hears from them around July 9, a Thursday. They tell her to bring in all of her unemployment check stubs and pay stubs from this year and tell her that they are going to have to adjust her information. I have not heard from them. No one told me to bring all of that....
So, having not heard anything from them, I go up to the school on July 13th. I inquire about my information and again am told that it is being processed. So I say, "I just want to make sure that my classes will be paid for because I am not working and I do not have the money to pay out of pocket." The lady that I am talking to tells me to come over to her desk and she will pull it up to see what they have. Now remember that I started this process in February, and brought the extra documentation in May. She pulls my information up and says, "well it looks like you made too much money last year to get any financial aid."
PISSED. that is what I was....PISSED!
"Ma'am, I bought new documentation up here in May explaining that since last year my husband had lost his job and I lost mine April of this year. We do not have that same income."
"Oh, well hold on, let me get your file...." She proceeds to go find said file. "Oh, yeah..... I see.... Well.... Let me see....." NONE OF THIS INFORMATION HAD BEEN ENTERED INTO THE COMPUTER. LIVID... i don't care if that is how you spell it or not, it is what I was...... This is July 13th!!!! I brought that information to the office, in person on May 29, 2009!!!!!! That was almost 2 months... oh, but it get so much better.
The lady informs me that my information will have to go before a Financial Aid Officer, who comes in at 10, (it is 8 am), to give a professional judgement and that I should give her a call. I call at 10:15, get voice mail. I call again at 1:30, I get voice mail. I leave a message. I call back Wednesday morning and let this person I know, I called you earlier in the week, I brought information up to the school on May 29, I need to know what is going on. She calls back and lets me know that there is a host of other information that she will need.
She mailed me out a letter that day. I received it on that Friday. It took me till July 30 to track down all of that information, (my 2008 taxes, my husband's last pay stub and separation notice from his job, (from June 28, 2008) my layoff paper, information about my job closing, pay stubs, unemployment information for 2008 and 2009 for my husband and I).
July 29, my friend gets a letter in the mail that her information has been fully processed, she will be be getting financial aid for BOTH Fall and Spring semester, and will have extra money. I have still not received word on my information, it is still being processed. She started this process on June 17th. I started May 29.....
Mad does not even begin to describe how I feel. And I hate that I feel like I do, because when my friend talks about it, I want to be happy with her, (because of course I am happy for her), but I am PISSED because these people have been jerking my chain for so long. I mean... I try not to look like I am in the financial situation that I am because I have been blessed in so many areas of my life. But really, WTH??? Just because I have a husband, (who, by the way, is currently in school) and I don't look like I am struggling, my stuff gets put on the back burner??
That is what this blog is about... Me and my journey back to school, to make a better life for me, my husband and the family we hope to have. I just never thought it would be this difficult.....
Tuesday, June 16
I *heart* School Supplies....Blog 2
Me and my love of school supplies. It runs deep.
I love to shop. My mom loves to shop. My grandmother loved to shop. So, shopping runs deep. But, there was one time of year that shopping was mandatory. BACK TO SCHOOL!! And I loved it. Shopping for the first day of school outfit, the new binder, and oohhh stickers.... Freshly sharpened pencils, I still love it all. But there is one specific back to school that turned me out.
In 1991 I went to stay with my dad for a while. It was February of 1991. In September of 1991 my father and I went shopping for school supplies. It was the first year I went shopping for school supplies without my mom buying, and without my brother. It was the first year I went shopping for school supplies in an office supply store. School supplies where usually bought at Caldor's or Woolworth's or H. L. Green's. But I went to an Office Supply Store with my father and he said, "Well, go get what you want...." You guys......I was in heaven. I swear, it was like the roof opened up and a light shined down on a package of pink notebook paper. **sidebar: Every summer we would go to Tennessee and before leaving I would go to the Wal-Mart and buy some package of colorful pens, (usually red, green, you know....) But this year, Bic had made some Shimmers pens that were in Pink, Purple, Turquoise, and Lime.** So when I saw that pink notebook paper, I HAD TO HAVE IT! And I could!!! My dad didn't make me get the plain white paper that was on sale for like 25 cents. And just when I thought it wouldn't get any better, he went and picked out some pink correction fluid, (read:white out)!! *I will love my dad forever for that.*
My teachers hated it. But at that time there were no school rules that said you had to write in blue or black ink or that your paper had to be white. So me and my pink pen and pink paper and Super Shades Binder and pink highlighter were all the rage at school.
That school year was a very turbulent one. However, it gave me one of my happiest memories and one of my favorite personal traditions: Picking a color scheme and buying new school supplies. I have added to that my yearly tradition of picking a new fashion theme.
I am grown now. But I am always excited about back to school. And this year, I get to buy school supplies. I am trying to decide on a color scheme, (though my paper will be white). I need a new tote bag to carry my books, I need notebooks, pens, highlighters, you know, all of that. I have decided on a Jackie O. goes bohemian look for back to school this fall. Now, time to hit the sales to bring my look together.
I love to shop. My mom loves to shop. My grandmother loved to shop. So, shopping runs deep. But, there was one time of year that shopping was mandatory. BACK TO SCHOOL!! And I loved it. Shopping for the first day of school outfit, the new binder, and oohhh stickers.... Freshly sharpened pencils, I still love it all. But there is one specific back to school that turned me out.
In 1991 I went to stay with my dad for a while. It was February of 1991. In September of 1991 my father and I went shopping for school supplies. It was the first year I went shopping for school supplies without my mom buying, and without my brother. It was the first year I went shopping for school supplies in an office supply store. School supplies where usually bought at Caldor's or Woolworth's or H. L. Green's. But I went to an Office Supply Store with my father and he said, "Well, go get what you want...." You guys......I was in heaven. I swear, it was like the roof opened up and a light shined down on a package of pink notebook paper. **sidebar: Every summer we would go to Tennessee and before leaving I would go to the Wal-Mart and buy some package of colorful pens, (usually red, green, you know....) But this year, Bic had made some Shimmers pens that were in Pink, Purple, Turquoise, and Lime.** So when I saw that pink notebook paper, I HAD TO HAVE IT! And I could!!! My dad didn't make me get the plain white paper that was on sale for like 25 cents. And just when I thought it wouldn't get any better, he went and picked out some pink correction fluid, (read:white out)!! *I will love my dad forever for that.*
My teachers hated it. But at that time there were no school rules that said you had to write in blue or black ink or that your paper had to be white. So me and my pink pen and pink paper and Super Shades Binder and pink highlighter were all the rage at school.
That school year was a very turbulent one. However, it gave me one of my happiest memories and one of my favorite personal traditions: Picking a color scheme and buying new school supplies. I have added to that my yearly tradition of picking a new fashion theme.
I am grown now. But I am always excited about back to school. And this year, I get to buy school supplies. I am trying to decide on a color scheme, (though my paper will be white). I need a new tote bag to carry my books, I need notebooks, pens, highlighters, you know, all of that. I have decided on a Jackie O. goes bohemian look for back to school this fall. Now, time to hit the sales to bring my look together.
Prequel...Blog 1
This blog is about me going back to school. That is pretty much it. So, I will give you some information about me, though my primary blog is on my Myspace page, http://www.myspace.com/shanigirl8177 . That is about my life, my thoughts on life and so on.
My job is ending. The plant I have worked at the last 3+ years is closing. It is kind of sad. But truthfully, I knew it was time for me to move on. Still, getting that push out the door is kind of a saddening/angering/frustrating thing....
I dropped out of school when I was 16. It was in April of the 10th grade. I cut school all the time, my friends and I. I just got tired of going. So the school and my mom threatened with taking me out of school if I didn't act right. I remember the day I walked in the guidance office and told the division principal, "I'm done." That is the only thing in my life that I would do over again if I could.
I was in honors classes. I still had a C average. Had a B in English and hadn't been there in 2 months..... I was always a smart girl. Was reading and comprehending at a college level when I was in the 4th grade. I dropped out of school because I was bored. The only challenging class I had was math. And that was because in the initial come-to-Jesus/come-to-school meeting I made it known that school was boring to me. So that was their way of upping the ante. But math was my last class of the day. I usually never made it back for math.....so I was failing it. I dropped out April 4, 1994. I received my GED in September of that same year.
I never had a prom. No yearbook with my picture in it. Never learned to discipline myself so that I could be a productive adult. My first 3 jobs all lasted for 6 months. They all ended with me quiting. I started community college in January of 1995. I left community college after 2 years because I just wouldn't go to class. I did eventually make it through Vo-Tech with a Certification in Architectural Drafting, for which there is NO job market where I live....
So, here I am. 15 years out of high school. 31 years old. And I am going back to school. But this time I am focused and purposed and determined. I am going to get this right this time. I am going to do my homework, (which, for the record, I almost never did all through school, primary on up). I am going to go to class. I am going to study.....ugh. But most of all, I am going to GET MY DEGREE. I'm 12 classes away. This blog is the journal of how I get it done. School starts on Aug. 31.
My job is ending. The plant I have worked at the last 3+ years is closing. It is kind of sad. But truthfully, I knew it was time for me to move on. Still, getting that push out the door is kind of a saddening/angering/frustrating thing....
I dropped out of school when I was 16. It was in April of the 10th grade. I cut school all the time, my friends and I. I just got tired of going. So the school and my mom threatened with taking me out of school if I didn't act right. I remember the day I walked in the guidance office and told the division principal, "I'm done." That is the only thing in my life that I would do over again if I could.
I was in honors classes. I still had a C average. Had a B in English and hadn't been there in 2 months..... I was always a smart girl. Was reading and comprehending at a college level when I was in the 4th grade. I dropped out of school because I was bored. The only challenging class I had was math. And that was because in the initial come-to-Jesus/come-to-school meeting I made it known that school was boring to me. So that was their way of upping the ante. But math was my last class of the day. I usually never made it back for math.....so I was failing it. I dropped out April 4, 1994. I received my GED in September of that same year.
I never had a prom. No yearbook with my picture in it. Never learned to discipline myself so that I could be a productive adult. My first 3 jobs all lasted for 6 months. They all ended with me quiting. I started community college in January of 1995. I left community college after 2 years because I just wouldn't go to class. I did eventually make it through Vo-Tech with a Certification in Architectural Drafting, for which there is NO job market where I live....
So, here I am. 15 years out of high school. 31 years old. And I am going back to school. But this time I am focused and purposed and determined. I am going to get this right this time. I am going to do my homework, (which, for the record, I almost never did all through school, primary on up). I am going to go to class. I am going to study.....ugh. But most of all, I am going to GET MY DEGREE. I'm 12 classes away. This blog is the journal of how I get it done. School starts on Aug. 31.
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