Rebekah's Voice
How have increased tuition fees impacted you and your family?:
Tuition increases mark the potential end to my schooling. I moved out when I was 16 and am the sole supporter of my education. I handle the payments through student loans, which when I started here last year was enough to cover tuition and have $300 left over for books. This year I had to take out two student loans and only had $90 left. Needless to say, I couldn¿t buy some of my books right away and instantly fell behind in some classes. There are no more loans that I, as a student, can pull out. With the tuition increasing again, I am now looking at not having the money to cover even basic tuition. The reason I cannot get financial aid through FAFSA is because I am required to give my parents financial information, even though I claim myself on my taxes and haven¿t lived at home since 16. My mom works at her local Target maybe three days a week. She has seven children and an additional four since she remarried. My stepfather, who came into my life around the same time I moved out, makes over $100,000 a year, and so I do not qualify for student aid. This has left me with few options that are quickly running dry. I already work over 20 hours a week at my local Staples, but that is barely enough for me to be on my own. The tuition increase is a threat to my education because I simply cannot take on the additional fees on my own.
What are you studying at SF State and what do you hope to do once you graduate?:
I am a journalism major and after I graduate I hope that I will be able to work as a columnist for a newspaper locally. One day I want to be a freelance writer for National Geographic.
Rebekah P., 19 Pinole
Share this story:
