2008 Woodie Awards
School is possible for me, thanks to financial aid, Adult Students Program
Kristen Coats
Issue date: 3/4/05 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
According to Brad Johnson, dean of college advancement, a spring 2002 survey showed that 29.4 percent of Amarillo College students had one or more children living with them.
I am a parent myself. I am a single mom of two girls. Even though my kids spend an equal amount of time with their father and me, it still is a tough job.
I graduated from high school in 2002, had two kids and was terrified about the image I had of how day-to-day living would be as a single parent. I knew it was time to overcome it.
I had decided it was time to get out in the real world, get a college education and get a good-paying job so I would have a plan for life.
That was the easy part, but how was I going to do it? Money was the main issue. I knew my time would be something I would just have to manage.
I started out with financial aid. "A lot of single parents come through, and that usually helps their eligibility for financial aid," said Rita Wilson, a financial aid assistant.
When I visited the financial aid office, they directed me to courses that would help. I learned about the Adult Students Program that offers help with child care, transportation and textbooks.
It also offers tuition scholarships and personal counseling. The financial aid was a big help.
Sometimes things for me as a single parent still can be tough, but I know quitting is not an option. It all will be worth it one day.
The resources are there. Learning where they are and how to use them is up to you.
I am a parent myself. I am a single mom of two girls. Even though my kids spend an equal amount of time with their father and me, it still is a tough job.
I graduated from high school in 2002, had two kids and was terrified about the image I had of how day-to-day living would be as a single parent. I knew it was time to overcome it.
I had decided it was time to get out in the real world, get a college education and get a good-paying job so I would have a plan for life.
That was the easy part, but how was I going to do it? Money was the main issue. I knew my time would be something I would just have to manage.
I started out with financial aid. "A lot of single parents come through, and that usually helps their eligibility for financial aid," said Rita Wilson, a financial aid assistant.
When I visited the financial aid office, they directed me to courses that would help. I learned about the Adult Students Program that offers help with child care, transportation and textbooks.
It also offers tuition scholarships and personal counseling. The financial aid was a big help.
Sometimes things for me as a single parent still can be tough, but I know quitting is not an option. It all will be worth it one day.
The resources are there. Learning where they are and how to use them is up to you.