2008 Woodie Awards
Letters to the Editor
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: Opinion
Non-traditional students and student loans
Dear Editor,
In response to the article written in the Jan. 17 paper about non-traditional students and their use of student loans, I found that I was greatly offended. I work two jobs, attend ISU full time, maintain at least a 3.4 GPA, and I am the single mother of two teenage children. I do not have parents paying for my education and have found that if I receive an $800 Scholarship they will take away $1300 in loan money. So much for the govt. aid for my so-called exotic vacation your writer referred to in her so called humorous article.
I know many of the non-traditional students here on campus and I know many who are working for minimum wage and have given much up to be here. They go without new clothes, cars, and struggle for food and utilities
I do not receive any help other than for my schooling; most other expenses I have to pay back on my own. I have regular living expenses such as rent, gas, electric, garbage, and car payments. No one helps me with those bills. Medical is a luxury, as is any form of entertainment.
I would like to meet the people who use their aid for trips. I would like to know how they do it. I have had sell my home and much else to come here for my education. I would love to not have to work so I could spend more time with my children and studying. I would like time to sleep and not have that knot in the pit of my stomach worrying about how to pay for the next semester and how to fill out all the new paper work they throw at me just to make sure I am not over the poverty line so I can get low cost loans.
I worked for 18 years had 4 children. I have paid plenty into the tax system. I have always been a responsible adult. I want an education. I find that at the age of 50 this may be my last ditch effort at a life.
There are no vacations. There are not even that many support groups for my age on campus. We need all the physical, emotional and financial support we can get.
Dear Editor,
In response to the article written in the Jan. 17 paper about non-traditional students and their use of student loans, I found that I was greatly offended. I work two jobs, attend ISU full time, maintain at least a 3.4 GPA, and I am the single mother of two teenage children. I do not have parents paying for my education and have found that if I receive an $800 Scholarship they will take away $1300 in loan money. So much for the govt. aid for my so-called exotic vacation your writer referred to in her so called humorous article.
I know many of the non-traditional students here on campus and I know many who are working for minimum wage and have given much up to be here. They go without new clothes, cars, and struggle for food and utilities
I do not receive any help other than for my schooling; most other expenses I have to pay back on my own. I have regular living expenses such as rent, gas, electric, garbage, and car payments. No one helps me with those bills. Medical is a luxury, as is any form of entertainment.
I would like to meet the people who use their aid for trips. I would like to know how they do it. I have had sell my home and much else to come here for my education. I would love to not have to work so I could spend more time with my children and studying. I would like time to sleep and not have that knot in the pit of my stomach worrying about how to pay for the next semester and how to fill out all the new paper work they throw at me just to make sure I am not over the poverty line so I can get low cost loans.
I worked for 18 years had 4 children. I have paid plenty into the tax system. I have always been a responsible adult. I want an education. I find that at the age of 50 this may be my last ditch effort at a life.
There are no vacations. There are not even that many support groups for my age on campus. We need all the physical, emotional and financial support we can get.
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