BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!

Subject: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 10:18 PM

YAY!

It's been a long time coming, however I now have the opportunity to go to college! Still need to find a lot in loans so I can fix the rest of the pesky health problems and make sure I'll be fully employable when I graduate... but I'm going.

It's a 2-year program which will allow me to leverage art, music, and writing skills into a job with a starting salary that might even pay all the bills. (I'll probably have to work at whatever job I can after finishing of course, while looking for something that'll use the skills.)

Thanks to everyone who believed in me, I just keep getting better and stronger.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 10:29 PM

congrats ~sirepseh~ ...best of luck

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 11:28 PM

Well, that's good. Any ideas about which college yet?

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 11:38 PM

Congrats!!

Break a leg!!

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 Aug 06 - 11:48 PM

That's wonderful, sirepseh!! Congratulations, esp. for believing in yourself!

luvyakat

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 01:21 AM

*GRIN*

Thanks guys! I'm so excited!!!!!

Hawk - Centennial. I should hear back next week about acceptance and such. They liked my portfolio though, so it should be good.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: dianavan
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 01:33 AM

Thats what I like to hear!

Good for you!

You go girl.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: gnu
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:36 AM

Good on ya!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: MMario
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:38 AM

wonderful news! You'll be burning the candle at both ends *and* in the middle with that mix of courses - but it should be worth it.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 01:08 PM

Centennial sounds good...but don't forget, the WSSBA has year-round courses in vital things like: the dramatic pause, the eyebrow lift, the intergalactic liplock, etc. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 01:11 PM

MMario - the course itself focuses on 3D art skills and on putting the rest of it together. So if I can hold myself back a bit from personal projects for the next couple of years, I won't be burning candles too fast. (That's a big IF though, hehehe.)

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Amos
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 01:22 PM

LH:

The WSSBA is a bad idea for Hes.

Who'd want to end up looking like an over-inflated gerbil with a hairpiece on?

A

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 02:01 PM

That only happens to the men!

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 02:31 AM

Indubitably, Amos!

The women... end up... not.. as... overly inflated... gerbils... BUT!

As overly... dramatic... aging STARS... who... somehow... still have... fantastic... sex appeal... sizzle... ooomph... and great figures...

Hawk - Perhaps... there IS... a possibility... in what you... have.. so wisely... said. However...

I have most definitely... already... mastered... the necessary... arts of... the.. DRAMATIC... pause... AND... the all-essential... lift... of... the brow.

In... addition... I am... most definitely... well endowed... to... MASTER... the prized... inter... galactic... lip... lock.

(My GOSH... this... is... so very... annoying... to... TYPE!)

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 08:02 AM

It's always great to hear when someone gets the opportunity to go to college, so congratulations! If your immune system is as you have explained in the past, I'm hoping you'll invest in some Purell or something....and by all means, wash your hands at every turn....especially after using keyboards!!!!!!!!!! I think the only place that has more make you sick germs is an elementary school!

Best of luck to you.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Little Hawk
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 01:10 PM

You have not only mastered....the dramatic pause. You have done it to death in that last post!

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Les from Hull
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 04:00 PM

Yes LH - I thought Shatner must have been dictating it!

Well done Hesp - good luck for the future and everything. I've always enjoyed your posts here and you're getting new, improved skills! But I hope that you're new improved writing skills will prevent you using the word 'leverage' again, and particularly as a verb. Arghhh! Keep it natural, kid!

Les

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 04:30 PM

LittleHawk....it's.....just....the....way....I....like....to....type....gives...me ....pause....for....thought....not...dramatic...pause.

*wink*....

Michelle :)

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Naemanson
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 11:23 PM

Congratulations Hesp. Go out there and learn! Well... go out there and hit the books! Study hard! Do drugs! Get drunk! Fall into bed with the wrong person...

Oh, wait, that was MY college experience... I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 20 Aug 06 - 01:31 PM

Hehehe, enough with the dramatic pauses!

I should hear an offer from the college by Wednesday or so... looking for an apartment now. Slim pickings for anything affordable, of course.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 23 Aug 06 - 10:15 PM

Possible apartment, looking at it on Saturday. Haven't heard back from the college. Will have to call tomorrow and find out what the delay is.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: gnu
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 01:38 AM

Fingers crossed here.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Bert
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 01:41 AM

...allow me to leverage art, music, and writing skills into a job...

Oooh! You lucky (and hardworking) bugger.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 04:23 AM

I wish you the best of luck Hesperis but caution you that Arts programs promise all that and the universe too while the proof will be in researching their placement statistics. Even if they don't keep any stats, at least ask to see the last five years of their alumni magazines so you can read what recent graduates really are up to. It will be inder the class news sections. You can see who's getting hired where and/or promoted to what jobs in their field. Here in the USA, 2 year programs in the arts are not that sucessful in placing people in music, journalism etc but good at placing people in animation. I believe you may now be back in Canada so things may be different there. Also, I don't know what type of progrtam it is, so forgive me for sounding so cautious.

I only urge caution because it is not in a chrocically ill persons best interests to take on huge debt to attend an instition that cannot give them a reasonable guarantee of employment placement upon receipt of an associates degree. Here in los Angeles, people with 2 year degrees do no bteer than those with a High School diploma wage-wise UNLESS their Assoicates is in a etchn ology field. then they do jusrt slightly worse than a 4 year grad which is very good actually in the costs-benefit department.

Seriously, see what their alumni are up to before agreeing to loans. if you are still here in the USA, you might be ale to get some aid from the State or County you live in for retraining. Your special physical needs prevent you from certain fields and if the 2 year program would provide you with skills to put you back in the job market and off disability (which I don't know if you get mind you), there are programs to fund that transition.

I am in awe of your enthusiasm. I have a chronic illness myself that severely limits my mobility and causes daily severe pain. I wish I had the strength of will that you do to take on such a comittment. I'm feeling very defeated of late. I believe the heat wave we had took a lot out of me physically and hope to get back up to my usual activities soon.

The very best of luck to you. My prayers will be with you as well. Your determination is inspiring.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 07:17 AM

Although employers in this particular field aren't as impressed with paper as most other fields, I have some volunteer experience which will be really helpful once I have a fantastic portfolio to blow them away with. Right now I only have a very partial skillset, so school is necessary. I also need loans to fix health problems so that I can guarantee getting to work every day, and student loans are the easiest loans to get.

Right now I could work part-time (if it was an office job), but at minimum wage that wouldn't even cover the cost of rent and transportation, much less bills or investments in a better future or a bit of fun now and then!

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Willie-O
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 10:33 AM

You go do it Hes, I'm glad to hear you're moving along. Haven't heard from you in awhile.

As for the concerns voiced by Dave's Wife, that basically sounds like an American scenario--at least, the financial hazard. To whom it may concern, Centennial is an Ontario community college, a network of institutions providing more-or-less practical employment-oriented diploma and certificate programs at relatively modest tuition rates. (Not as modest as they used to be, but extremely so compared to U.S. higher education).

What's the worst that can happen? I can tell you cause it happened to me. A few years ago I took a year and did a community college program in Technical Writing, which did not lead me to high-paid employment in that field. Tech crash and all that. But I don't regret it, I learned a lot and the fact that there's still a minor bulge of a few thou in one of my (low-interest) credit card balances is just a fact of life. This is a program by the way that had a great placement rate two years before I took it--the tech crash changed that.

Anyway good luck and go ahead with it. Any kind of relevant-to-your-aspirations certification is good to get.

W-O

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 11:06 AM

Yeah, Centennial usually offers really practical training, which is one of the reasons I was happy they began offering a diploma course in this field.

This particular thing is a "sexy" career field, which I am a bit concerned about - a lot of people are trying to enter it right now unprepared to actually have to do *ugh* WORK. However, I'm aiming at leveraging some prior skills to have a slightly different end job aim than most people in the course. As well as which I'll be able to use the skills for my own projects.

I might have to take a couple of targeted night classes afterwards to really do what I want (and make the really good money too... muahaha).

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: dianavan
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 02:55 PM

hesperis - Today a college education or a university degree does not guarantee employment like it used to. It's still worth it. You will learn and grow and thats what is important in the long run. The self confidence you will gain will help you in every aspect of your life.

In today's world, learning a trade is an excellent option. The fees are not as high, apprenticeships are available and you can often 'learn as you go'. With so many baby boomers retiring from the trades, the job possibilities are endless. Also look into the the co-op programs that allow you to work in the field for a term or two. That way, when you graduate, you will not have such a daunting loan to repay.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: LilyFestre
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 03:00 PM

My Nana always told me, "An education is something that can never be taken away from you. You get out of it, exactly what you put in." She's right.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Janie
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 06:42 PM

All the best!

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: MaineDog
Date: 24 Aug 06 - 07:32 PM

Don't let anyone discourage you!
Go for it 120 %
Education is for YOU!
Training is for getting a job.
These are related, but not the same.
The more education you get, the better you life will be, whether you get a job or not.

MD

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 27 Aug 06 - 02:48 PM

Thanks, folks!

I've been accepted into the program at Centennial, and actually found a great apartment! (Plus which it's semi-furnished!) Yay!

The next step is loans. Government loans will be late (and quite probably not enough for the "startup costs" of becoming a student from being homeless) so I have to go to the bank.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: dianavan
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 12:59 AM

Go to the financial aid office at the college. They know that the loan will probably be late. They have bursaries. Apply.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 28 Aug 06 - 01:37 AM

Ok, two places to go tomorrow. :)

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 07:22 PM

Ok, bursaries are all gone for this school year. The school might get more money for scholarships in December. Maybe.

OSAP's estimate is $13,000 short of what we need *at a minimum* to live on, get health taken care of, and physically go to school. I was expecting $5,000-$8,000 short considering how poor we are, but OSAP probably reserves the maximum for a married couple with kids.

(And believe me, I'm not talking caviar and beds of rose petals... when I budget minimum, I budget minimum. I even found a place that is WAY under the average rent for Toronto, that won't make me sick with environmental sensitivities! (The landlady has them too.))

I may have help from a co-signor for $5,000. That's still $8,000 short. The bank will not allow me to apply without a co-signor or a job. The bank refused to allow me to apply for a short-term loan to pay rent with before OSAP comes in, because the OSAP estimate said "estimate" not "guarantee" so I will probably lose out on the place and have to get something twice as expensive AND buy furniture. Any rooms for rent that will allow a couple into the same room are the same price as that place.)

It's not like I can walk out tomorrow and get a part-time job and be able to do it. All summer, I have not had adequate food or access to medication. I need time to ramp-up even to a job SEARCH. With school, ok, it's important to be there, but it's not NEARLY as important as with a job.

My guy's parents probably won't help. We will ask... but they expect him to be as capable as a normal person and then blame him for not being that way. (And they expect him to work here illegally if we're THAT bad of, even though that is the dumbest possible thing we could do.)

So, again, the plan is impossible because it requires money. I can't go to school, I can't get a place to live. We're getting kicked out of the shelter anyway because I have no options for a plan. He can't go to school here instead of me because it'd be $12,000 more expensive than for me!

If we were allowed to stay at the shelter, I'd need an additional $500 a month just to LOOK for a part-time job, much less get to one. (Which is rather why I wasn't able to look effectively all summer.)

I'm sorry, living requires money. I don't have money. Therefore, I can't get money to live. That's just the way it works. Disability... well... I'm theoretically capable of going to school full-time or of working part-time. Therefore I'm not disabled.

We can't even go on social assistance because rent for ANYTHING would be more than I'd receive, so they'd disqualify me based on the fact that I'd have to have extra income from somewhere to pay that much in rent. We can't stay in the shelter and get OSAP, because that's "double-dipping" and is illegal.

I could get tuition deferred, for an extra fee. Then I'd just have to borrow even more money that I can't borrow in the first place. Without more co-signers, nothing at all can happen. Orientation is tomorrow...

So, tomorrow I talk to the school and tell them that the bank turned me down and I have no place to live and no way to pay tuition, buy books, buy pants (I have no pants just two pairs of shorts), or pay for transportation/food/medication/anything.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 09:01 PM

Usually people arrange the student loans first, then schedule their starting date. Acceptance is not a guarantee of participating. Good luck!

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: dianavan
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 10:07 PM

Actually, you need to show that the college has accepted you for the term before you are eligible for a student loan. Its impossible to secure the loan without the papers from the college.

Don't give up Hesperis.

Look into the co-op programs available.

Yes, bursary money goes fast but go back to the financial aid office again. They always seem to have a little money stashed away for emergencies. Tell them they are your last hope. There are also bursaries available that you apply for yourself. The college will have a publication of available bursaries that are available. Its fitting the criteria that is tough. If you find you match the criteria, apply yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: mg
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 11:08 PM

Does the shelter have a social worker? Does the school? There is someone around somewhere who can cut through some red tape. His parents should hopefully help a bit and I would think they would be glad to see your efforts here. How illegal is he? Can he walk dogs? Mow lawns? He should be able to legally pick up some sort of money since you are married. If nothing else call the American consulate and ask them for advice, or have him do it. I would go to the welfare office again, perhaps with a note from the school and the landlady and any medical records you have about your allergies and etc. etc. I would recommend first thing tomorrow calling the landlady. You have a husband (thank heavens, I was afraid to ask if you were still together) who perhaps could do something she needs done in exchange for rent. Does she need painting, shopping? What are his handyman skills? Is she elderly and need shopping or transportation? How is he there? Remember, there are people who just love sorting out these puzzles and all youhave to do in the next 12 hours is latch on to one of them, and that husband of yours should be out combing the streets for solutions to help both of you.

Call the Director of Admissions at the college. Explain the obstacles you are overcoming. I still don't understand why you don't qualify for disability of some sort. Make sure that you are really and truly denied these things, preferably in writing. If not, get names, phone numbers etc. Sometimes we just assume we don't qualify for something when really we would have. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: mg
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 11:10 PM

Guest that is cruel and abusive. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Aug 06 - 11:37 PM

Yes, you need that letter of admission to submit the loan application but you do the homework on loans before planning what you are going to do-- you need to be up on the funding cycle, the loan requirements, etc. before you plunge in to plan housing, campus job toward tuition, etc.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 07:15 AM

Thanks for the advice. We're doing what we can, however there's no guarantee that our efforts will bring in cash, much less enough to cover the shortfall.

Every loan estimate was not actually an estimate before the government website had the information for the program, which was not until very recently. There was no way to know what the government loan amount would be, except for the maximum for a single person and the maximum for a married person. I had hoped that I would receive the maximum due to the absolute poverty but apparently the government still pretends that applicants have family support and money they don't necessarily have when doing the calculations. I can appeal, but might get even less, it'll depend on the person handling the appeal.

I knew I'd need *something* at the bank, and had one co-signer. Unfortunately, the loans needed are more than that one co-signer will sign up for, and I need 3 co-signers.

The automatic grants will help, but I'll still need a total debt of $25k at the worst, ($10.5k gov, $15k bank,) which will be reduced if we have any income or scholarships.

We're trying to ask for help from his parents. We will still need one more person to help.

I can apply for scholarships until I'm blue in the face however if the money's already gone it's gone. There's no guarantee that I'd get scholarships, campus jobs, off-campus jobs, or that my husband can help out. I'm applying, sure, but I still might get nothing at all for it. I'm also not going to be physically ok to go to school and work at the same time until about December, because it's going to take some time to recover from this summer's lack of food and medication.

My mother hasn't called me back, as far as I know there's no help there anyway as her situation is usually even more precarious than mine.

I'm trying to get the worst case scenario covered so that anything we can do to improve the situation actually does improve it, rather than just making the situation slightly less impossible.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 11:56 AM

MG:

But it's a simple way for a person who has no other known skills to make some good money. Education is important. What's a couple of tumples every now and then?

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 05:31 PM

How did things go today? Any progress? Are you affiliated with any church? They might have someone to pull strings. Find a social worker quick. Start calling agencies, hospitals usually have them and Canada has free hospitals...find someone who can pull rabbits out of a hat. Have you talked with the nice landlady? Talk again to welfare...they might have a program you don't know about for education. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 06:05 PM

Hesperis,

   Your husband is a US citizen, correct? A long term plan that might be worth some consideration is having him apply for school loans in the US for himself. Those loans are usually fairly easy to obtain and cover tuition and cost of living expenses. You wouldn't be living high on the hog but if he could get through first and get a job, then you could follow. If I rememeber correctly, he has some kind of disability and wouldn't you know, many universities and colleges have programs for folks with such challenges. It wouldn't hurt to try anyway!

Being at the tail end of an education at the local university, I can tell you that being in class DOES matter just as much as being at a job.   There are policies in place that will make it impossible for you to miss many classes without a failing grade. Not to rain on your parade, but universities (and all schools in general) are cesspools of germs. If your health is as you have stated in the past, maybe an online degree program might be the better way for you to go....just a thought.   

Personally, I'd look into getting US student loans for hubby for the upcoming semester in January (too late for the fall semester now unless you find a school with trimesters) and budget the cost of living extra $$$ to get you through. When he's done and you are more stable, THEN go for your degree...there's nothing to say you can't start learning the information on your own while you are waiting.

Just another option......

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,LilyFestre
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 06:17 PM

Also, when you or hubby do get to college, buy your books online. They cost 50-75% less than used texts at the college bookstore.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,LilyFestre
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 06:18 PM

What about work study? Do they have work study in Canada?

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: dianavan
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 06:40 PM

Yes, look into work study. Thats how my daughter is paying her way. Its a good option and the work she is doing now will actually count towards her professional development (appreticeship).

Hesperis - If I can do it, anyone can do it.

I arrived at university with two kids, their bunk beds tied to the top of my old volvo, some bedding and clothing and a few pots and pans. I was penniless and without a home. I also had no family to back me. It took me seven years to do what most do in five years but I graduated. Best of all, my daughter is very close to becoming an environmental architecht.

Without a doubt, we have broken the cycle of poverty and you can too.

Just do it! If the boyfriend is holding you back, dump him. He needs to take care of himself. Its not your responsibility.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 07:17 PM

The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territorial Headquarters
2 Overlea Boulevard
Toronto, Ontario M4H 1P4

Find us on Google Maps

Phone Nunber
P 416 425 2111

Contact Form

Contact the Salvation Army. I just wrote and explained your situation (did not give name of course) and asked for a social worker to contact me, but I will be gone from Friday through Monday. So go ahead and call that number yourself and ask for a social worker and say a friend in the US has already written about the situation. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 30 Aug 06 - 11:57 PM

Thanks for the practicals!

I've stated a lot of things both here and in previous threads, apparently some people are capable of logic and others have difficulty connecting facts and things I've already said together.

* I have had enough treatments to be capable of part-time work or full-time school IF I have $200/month available for supplements and treatments. This is budgeted

* I need those health treatments and some time for them to become even more effective before I can work full-time or go to school AND work part-time

* I will be looking for work as soon as I'm capable of working part-time in addition to school

* Work doesn't just appear out of thin air, jeeze

* I am and will be looking for scholarships

* I will be taking as many courses online as the school will let me. Some courses will need to be in school for networking purposes

* It is cheaper to rent a decent furnished apartment than to live in student residence, and it is the same price for a room for 2 people anyway

* Rents in Toronto are very high (not as high as New York, but higher than affordable) and this plus the health treatments needed, cause a shortfall from government loan supports

* There are no guarantees that I will make any cash during the school year, that means I MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT make cash

* Without bridging that shortfall, this plan will also fail because I will be too sick to follow through properly

* I have only been capable of getting the paperwork and apartment hunting done because a friend gave me money for medication

* The only possible solution that WILL definitely work is co-signers for bank loans

* I will be qualified for a starting salary of around $30k by next year

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: mg
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 12:04 AM

When can your husband legally work? He should be able to bring in a few hundred a month at least, regardless of handicapping situations. Get him to talk to an immigration person and go for a free initial interview with an immigraition attorney if there are obstacles. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 01:44 AM

6-9 months from late September.

Just sent off the first scholarship essay... probably competing with millions on it though so I'm not expecting to win it. Worth trying.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,LilyFestre
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 02:10 AM

Hesperis,

   You wrote, "I've stated a lot of things both here and in previous threads, apparently some people are capable of logic and others have difficulty connecting facts and things I've already said together."

Why be nasty? You are in a bind and people are TRYING to be helpful. Big surprise for you sweetheart, not everyone keeps up on all the details of your life from past threads as many of us have lives of our own. Imagine that. I think it takes balls to spit in the face of the same folks who you have sought help from. Thoughtful folk have offered various ideas and encouragement and look what you do. Way to go.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 03:07 AM

Why do you think it was nasty? Some people are rather obviously having difficulty thinking the entire problem through. It is a complex problem - if not there would already have been a solution. *Shrug*

I do think it takes balls to give advice without thinking over the situation at all, or to talk down to people as if they aren't thinking or trying different tactics about their own situation. (Now that, you may take as nasty, if you wish. Or you may take it as an opinion, if you wish. It's up to you.)

I'm quite sure that some of the people who are posting advice without thinking things through are trying to help, rather than just trying to give advice. And help is definitely appreciated. I figured that clarification was needed.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 07:01 AM

Hesperis,

   I have seen you go through these cycles and then get frustrated with anyone who doesn't clearly understand your situation. That isn't advice, it's an observation. You can only burn so many bridges, you know?

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 11:55 AM

Hey, I'm human. You want to perceive me as burning bridges, that's up to you. However, I am the one who has to live with my limitations, and I'm sorry if that makes it easy for me to get frustrated when people don't understand when I tell them over and over that there's a limitation right there so I can't take their advice, no matter how well-intentioned it is. I'm the one who has to live with people getting angry at me for not "just" overcoming a limitation by wishing it'd go away.

If the shelter hadn't made me sick and if the government had given us enough money for food and medication, I'd have had a part-time job all summer to contribute to savings and would probably be studying on my own rather than going to college. But the government doesn't work that way. I'm sorry if I get frustrated with people who have rose-coloured glasses on and believe that the government actually helps poor people just because it's "supposed" to help them according to popular belief.

The truth is, I have to act as if it's a worst-case scenario, and I have to find a way to make the worst-case scenario WORK. That way, if I find part-time work I can actually do, the debt gets repaid faster.

Nothing in life happens without support from other people. I don't understand how some people don't understand that.

I'm very, very close to functional. I've lived unfunctional for a very long time, and yes, I get impatient. I want to be well, I want to work, I want to contribute. I don't see people trying to understand that; I see a few people understanding and a few people metaphorically telling me to fly when I can barely walk, then telling me I'm ungrateful for being upset.

Do you know, I tell myself every day that I should be flying? I should just be able to get a job, everyone else can? I should be able to do the impossible, because that's the only thing that will help?

I live under incredible pressure all the time, and I'm human. Sorry if I snap occasionally.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 02:27 PM

DO NOT GIVE UP. You are almost there. A friend whose son immigrated to Canada said she thought there were 6-months visitors visas where he could work. Your husband should be checking every avenue to see if there are ways he can work. Maybe start at the public library. As a librarian a question and he/she probably won't sleep at night until she knows the answer. You can keep calling today or maybe go to the college today and tomorrow and sit in every dean's office you can find. One will be able to make a phone call and find some solutions. Go to the nearest hospital and ask for a social worker. Have your husband do as much as possible. If he can't work he can help gather information. In a big city like Toronto there are solutions. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: dianavan
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 03:41 PM

Seems to me that Hesperis thinks the only solution is to find another co-signer or two.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 04:34 PM

Hesperis,

   I see you have written a long rant and frankly I don't have the time for it. You seem to have made up your mind and aren't interested in what others (who have actually had struggles to work through and who have had life experiences of their own) have to say. I think Mudcat is a great source of support but at some point you have to get off the pity pot. NOBODY here is going to be able to give you the complete answer to your problem as there isn't a soul here who walks in your shoes and it's highly unlikely that you can give a clear picture of all the factors. Have you seen a social worker? Have you at least helped yourself that much? I don't want an answer but honestly, I don't think you have. I think you need a case worker in a big way but that's entirely up to you. They are there to help but I get the feeling that instead of help, you want attention and a handout. *shrug* That's your business.

Get some help for yourself and maybe you will get to school. An education is a great thing and I am not trying to discourage you from that at all but I do think you need a HUGE reality check.

Rant on if you wish, I'm not interested in reading what you have to say as you clearly are not interested in helping yourself....only a handout.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,mgarvey
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 05:10 PM

Hesperis, please contact me at [e-mail]. ASAP ASAP ASAP TODAY RIGHT NOW IF POSSIBLE.   I will be gone through Monday unfortunately. Please if you feel safe about it leave me a way to contact you through phone, email, addresss..as many as possible ways. I have gotten in touch with someone who might help pull strings. People here can vouch for me that I am safe etc. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 11:14 PM

Michelle - I have a caseworker assigned to me from the shelter. She doesn't do much though. Either lazy or overworked, I guess.

Of course, all I want is a handout. That's what all poor people want, isn't it? That's why I'm trying to arrange loans and have budgeted for minimum payments and am writing scholarship essays and preparing for a jobsearch for December when I'll be healthy enough, rather than begging for cash. *rollseyes* You're beginning to sound like a troll, lol.

(I won't deny that I do want attention though, hehehe. A little bit of a cheering section is really helpful when you're going through a difficult process.)

Look, Michelle, I do recognize that in a lot of cases you know what you're talking about. I would appreciate it if you made it more obvious that you recognize that I am doing the best I can with the resources I have available, rather than just criticizing. (If you actually think that, of course.)

mg - I will email and PM important details.

Everyone (and I do mean everyone) - thank you for your support and your suggestions of how to get cheap books and such. We now have a very temporary loan, which will cover first and last and get us set up with the cheapest possible books and equipment for school. That will have to be repaid as soon as OSAP arrives.

I will have to find a way to cover the shortfall in the worst case. Not going to give up (even though I felt like it after talking to the banks). This is the closest we've come to a workable solution, and it's worth going for.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 04:38 AM

Why not spend the time you spend getting government services to take care of you...working at a job. Surely, if you can get out there and look for gov help you can also work. Lots of people work without taking allergy medication.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 09:00 AM

I find it very hard to believe that this person really exists and is not a creation of someone's warped mind like the departed Martin Gibson. I can't conceive of any living person being so pathetic, helpless, hopeless and whiney.

Every few months there is some other major catastrophe where this character cannot possibly find a solution. I know of no other young person who has had so many maladies, personal problems and made as many bad decisions. Most real people would have done something to help themselves during the long period of time that this character has been creating a presumably fictional soap opera. Where are family, friends, etc?

My guess is that this Hesperis is some sort of fictional character who is just pulling the strings of the Mudcat community. Perhaps the creator of this character should put his/her talents to a better use by joining the writing team of a soap opera. The Hesperis character is a true work of art illustrating 100% total pathos.

I am a member but have signed in as a guest because I do not want to be bombarded with e-mails from people who may disagree with me.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 12:16 PM

Heh, it's funny how many times the things I've experienced first-hand or seen happen to others have been mistaken for fiction when I told someone else about them. Perhaps it's my writing style? Maybe I do have a future in fiction, that'd be awesome. (But do you think it'd pay off the school loans?)

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 01:41 PM

Writing fiction will certainly pay off college bills for a fictional character. My suggestion, however, is that you make this Hesperis character a little less whiney and just somewhat less pathetic. It's almost at the point where I, as a reader, say "Who cares?". Throw in a good high every once in a while and then do your typical great job of crashing down. It's sure keeping my interest. You are a much better character then the Martin Gibson abrasive one created by somebody else. Yes, whoever youare, you certainly have a future as a writer.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: Jeri
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 02:45 PM

Hesperis, maybe you ought to write something! When you inspire people who don't enjoy your posts to read them faithfully and when you provoke such strong emotions, offended assumptions, and paranoid beliefs you don't really exixt by simply telling what's going on in your life, and when you can get so many people trying to help you when you never actually asked for help (Like that's not a human trait, as is getting upset when a person doesn't take their un-asked for advice. Frustrating, but human), you might think about turning this in to fiction...mostly about the way humans react when they hear about someone else's life.

Whatever. I applaud your restraint, and your persistance in not settling for less than the best. People have to have a dream.
The dream can change with time and reality, but that 'working at a job' instead of trying to do something you care about is for people who give up. There's a time for that, too, but YOU get to judge when.

I wish you only the best.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 01 Sep 06 - 05:50 PM

Aww, Jeri, that was beautiful. *hug*

Working at a job is a good thing to do. Working at a dead-end job with no way to pay for necessary bills much less a better future, is... not so good. Sometimes it's necessary, and that's something that sucks about our current society.

Anyway, if the medication and nutrition works and I can gain health faster than estimated then I'll be looking for part-time work on top of school sooner than estimated. Once you have a goal, every little bit towards that helps, not only directly, but also in keeping you motivated.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 11:10 AM

Hesperis, Mary Garvey is urgently trying to reach you with some potential financial help. See her post here:

CLICK

~s~

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: hesperis
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 11:36 PM

Alrighty. Talked to the Dean, have a referral to a couple of people who can help further. Finally tracked down OSAP application person at my campus today, will definitely have to appeal but will be getting a larger sum in the first semester and then a smaller one in the second semester. They divide it that way for people to get startup books and equipment I guess.

Unfortunately, since the third semester is in the summer OSAP has bundled it with the other two payments, and of course OSAP does not support internships at all. One person told me to budget... I've definitely budgeted!

**In conclusion: the first and second semesters are basically ok, and I might even be able to get a part-time job in the second semester so might be able to access bank loans for the third... however that being a possibility rather than an actuality I will still be accessing as much help as possible as soon as possible.**

Classes are AWESOME, teachers are GREAT, and fellow students are likewise AWESOME. I've already learned a ton.

The college also has a scent-free policy which is helping a lot as the only times I'm exposed to *major* allergens are during travel and during errands at lunch.

Subject: RE: BS: Hesperis goes to COLLEGE!!!!!!
From: GUEST,Partridge
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 03:23 PM

Good Luck!

Pat x