Financial Aid

Sunday morning I received an email from Long Beach stating that they had processed my financial aid forms and that I would in fact be receiving money this year. This was great news to me because I had spent a large part of last week freaking out over my financial situation. Over a year ago I was faced with the decision of choosing work over school because whilst at Cal State LA, I did not receive any sort of help. My university experience had felt like a complete disaster and I didn't know what to expect in the future. Up until Sunday morning, this thought had been lingering in the back of my mind- the fear of having to drop out of school.
My transfer to Long Beach earlier this year was extremely unprecedented but after a year off I was itching to get back into school. This time, rather than sacrificing my education, I took a large pay cut and became a full time student. I'm proud of how well I did and am so glad to know that CSULB financial aid will allow me to continue.

The trippiest part of this entire thing, to me anyways, is that this may actually be my last year of school as an undergrad. I can hardly contain all the joy I feel. My closest group of friends have all been done and I've felt like a complete failure all along, but I think I've taken out of this more than they will ever know or possibly understand. They had the perfect four year experience: partying, moving out, making new "life long" friends, partying some more, and graduating. My path has been anything but that. Working full time (3 jobs at a time even), having to pay bills, contributing to my household, chauffeuring my siblings, having to take time off of school, all so different from what I know my friends went through. This is what makes me so damn proud. 

AHHHH! My senior year will start in two weeks and I cannot wait for it to fly by me. I know this won't be the end of my education because there is so much more I want to do, like to receive my PPS credential with possibly an MSW, but the significance of finishing - the first in my family to do so- is pretty damn exhilarating. I can't wait.