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3 posts
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Single mom of three going to school

student_mom3 started this conversation
Apr 15, 2007

Hi, My name is Melody, I am a single mom of three wonderful kids, I have been going to school full time for the past three years and finally graduated from a community college with my Associates Transfer degree (3.5 GPA).  I will be transferring to a four year university in the Fall of 2007 to complete a two year program to recieve my bachelors degree in Human Services.  Because the program is designed for a fall entry I can not start til then.  I do recieve student financial aid and student loans to pay for my schooling, and because it does provide for housing, transportation and some other living expenses, I am able to budget tightly each quarter to get my family through to the next quarter.  (I also am on a housing program which helps with my rent, but not the utilities.)  I am currently taking a class (A computer class), even though I graduated already, but it is required for the Human Services program I am going into.  With that and my children, it is hard to find a job that offers the flexibility I need.  I am terrible at asking for help, but I am also one of the most giving people, which is why I have chosen to go into a field of education where I can help people.  Anyways, I need help!  I can't get through the summer unless I can find a part time flexible job now, which I am working on, but in the mean time, I am slipping further and further behind in my bills (electric, phone, gas, etc.)  To make matters worse, the father of my 7 year old twins rarely works so I can never count on his child support, which I am currently not receiving as of last month.  So if anybody would be willing to help me at this point of need in my life, I would be forever grateful.  Please feel free to contact me and ask me any questions you may have.

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4singleladies
Feb 1, 2012
 in response to rlcashion...   Hi Melody,

First those type of colleges are more like private schools so they charge a lot more than a community college and end up taking all the financial aid. If you go to a community college or university you will actually receive money back from financial aid, because they consider living expenses as well.
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rlcashion
May 11, 2009

Melody,

 I think your post is wonderful! I am also in a sitution very similar to yours. Maybe the two of each can help each other out in some way. Let me expand on my situation a bit. I am divorced and my ex husband never works either. He skipped state to avoid having to pay child support on our two girls ages 4 years and 18 months. I am also a full time student. I attend Everest University Online out of Tampa, Fl. I have a 4.0 GPA and have no choice but to finish my degree ASAP. I have recently found out that I am pregnant again which was totally unexpected. Needless to say, the father is not around. This is typical these days. Never the less, I feel disappointed in myself that this happened to me but at the same time I am an adult and I have to take care of my responsibilities regardless of whether the other party does or not. I have absolutely no idea how I am going to make it financially. My tuition is so high that all of my financial aid goes to the school and I get zero in return. My books are figured in with my tuition so I do not even get a separate check for living expenses. Which, to me is crazy because how do they expect me to live going to school full time with two children (then another on the way). But, there are no jobs in my area I have been searching everywhere even long commutes for minimum wage just because anything would help at this point. I have been clipping coupons until I can see coupons in my sleep. In the last week I have clipped over $170 worth of coupons on everything from food, to diapers, to cleaning supplies. There has to be some help available for people like us that are single mothers literally doing our best giving 150% to see that our kids are taken care of as well as trying to get an education so that we can give our children a better quality of life because we know that we can never count on these dead beat dads. I am steadily searching for grants, scholarships, loans, alternative loans, anything. I have even tried to see if I could get a job at my school online returning emails, answering phones, or anything. If anyone, anywhere knows how single mothers such as Melody and myself as well as others that are in the same situation that we are in can get any help. A job of any kind. A loan with extended repayment until after graduation. Any kind of information that would be helpful, please reply. I can be reached at rlcashion@gmail.com

 

Thank you for taking the time to read this. May God bless you!

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