I submitted this to Obama today...

[FirstLight]

Dear President –Elect Obama & staff –
I have several pressing issues, but the one that seems to get in the way of my forward motion to succeed is completing my education. I need to know if the service program will help me get back to school & complete my degree.
I am 38 years old and went to school in my early 20’s as a single mom of one, while on the welfare to work program. I graduated but was never able to get to a university because the fear of how to raise a kid in a different city all alone was too much for me. I got remarried at 30 and was hoping to complete my education someday… (then I ended up running for my life with 2 more kids and an ex who is now in prison...)
My Student loan is currently in default and I have not made more than 15k in the past 5 years or more. Last year I made less than 8K!!! My loan went into default during my last marriage while I was fighting for my life and that of my children.
There is no way for me to file a “special circumstance” with the Dept of Education as a victim of Domestic Violence, and there is no way for me to go back to school and finish my degree – because the default also makes me ineligible for Pell Grants, and other assistance. Therefore, my ability to HAVE a career and create a life OUT of poverty for my children is nil.
ALL of my Earned Income Credits, Refunds and Economic Stimulus monies have been grabbed by the Student Loan Dept…when that money would help us get out of the HOLE we are living in constantly.
I have a section 8 voucher and am on the Family Self Sufficiently program, but my forward progress is stalled because of my inability to complete my education and get a career going. I have interests in healthcare, education and journalism. I have lots of life experience and have continued to try to struggle up this insurmountable hill to make things better for my family. I love education and would love to offer my talents as a teacher someday, but these goals seem lofty when I can’t even afford to pay full rent on a place for us to live.
How do I get back into school? If I sign up for a service-education program, can my student loan be deferred for a year or two so I can actually get to a point that I am making enough to pay it off? I was conned into the loan in my early college years, being told “by the time you graduate, you’ll be making more than enough to pay this off”. Problem is - I can’t graduate!
Please tell me how the new programs will make me able to get my education back on track. I would be willing to work for the State or Govt, if there was some way it would help this endeavor.
Sincerely – in HOPE
L....

Let's see if there is SOME way i can get back to school, otherwise i am just screwed for life.
Honestly, at this point, i am desperate, i may just end up applying for a job with obama's staff...HA! like that would happen!

[Shardik]

1. Keep the faith.

You are never "screwed for life."

There is always HOPE. And I'm lending you some of mine here.

[rug]

2. Check this out in the meantime.

https://www.excelsior.edu/

[FirstLight]

3. Thanks for the hope & info...

I sent EC an email to see if they have some kind of program or waiver i can get in on... I guess the other idea is to COMB for a scholarship.
I even called the DOJ and the Dept of Ed to see if there was ANY help for women who were victims/survivors of DV and the silence is deafening!

It really sucks because I am struggling SO hard to get back on my freaking feet, and i have no resources... I have taken as many Community College units as is humanly possible...have almost 2 AA's and still can't get where I need to be - as a result, i am always feeling under-qualified, undereducated...even though my life skills rock and ability to problem solve is excellent!
I even contacted the dean of the school of journalism at UNR and he said my experience in print journalism was basically "worthless" because the Journalism school is mostly geared for broadcast and electronic venues.
so even my SKILLS have no worth? wtf?

I guess I am trying not to panic right now but my job is cutting my hours to 10 a week in Jan and i am back on the market again for something to keep us afloat.
i hate being in the position of either working at the casinos or finishing my education and doing something worthwhile!