At the beginning of the year, I decided to get the ball rolling on going to school. Considering that my 2007 income was pathetic, I figured I had a shot at getting some federal grants. I applied at the local community college for the 2008-09 school year, and I filled out the financial aid forms the day I mailed out my taxes. This was in January.
I received a notice in the mail at the end of May (finally) telling me that my forms had been processed and that I should know whether or not I will receive any aid by the end of June (woo!), and since I applied early, the odds were in my favor.
The entire month of June passed, and there was nothing. I checked in with the school once a week, and they had nothing. July came, and about two weeks in a friend of mine from Seattle called me up because she needed a roommate, and she was wondering if I was interested. She needed to have a roommate moved in by the beginning of September. Its very important to note that I absolutely hate the town I’m living in right now - absolutely hate it. I made the mistake of moving here because my boyfriend found a job in the area, and I left Seattle to be with him. I’ve been paying for it ever since, especially considering that we’re not even together anymore. However, I wasn’t even considering moving back to the city until this point because it would be too expensive. In fact, I had come to the conclusion in a while ago that the only way I would move back is if I could find a roommate - and the roommate would have to be a friend, and also be financial stable. There was really only one friend who fit that description in my head, and she’s the one who gave me the call. Well, shit - and she lives in Ballard too!
Anyhow, I told her that I needed a few weeks to think about it because I still hadn’t received anything regarding my financial aid. She completely understood and gave me the time to find it all out. Three weeks passed (and I was calling the school twice a week at this point), and they still didn’t have anything. When the first week of August rolled in, I made my decision. I was going to move back to Seattle. I called the school one last time, still nothing. At this point, registration was only about two weeks away. I called my friend and told her she had herself a roommate. I’ve been the happiest person since then, so excited. I have everything arranged. I work at a national bookstore and also at Starbucks, and both places were able to transfer me into positions in Seattle. I have the first two months of rent saved, and I’m about 90% packed for the move. Everything is set for me to move over Labor day weekend. I truly felt I made the right decision. The process was so seamless, it was like it was suppose to work out this way.
Then I get a notice in the mail from the community college today. Not only did I receive financial aid, but my entire academic year would be covered.
Aaaaaaarrrrrggghhhhhhhhhh…
I’m upset. I honestly figured it was all a lost cause, they were taking so long. I can’t back out of moving to Seattle now, and to be honest I don’t want to…but that money, its gone. I wish I didn’t know. I wish my application got lost somewhere in Financial Aid Land. I was so happy about getting out of here and moving back to the one place that ever felt like home to me, and now there is this giant cloud hovering over my little parade.
I sent an email to the financial aid offices to see if there is any way of possibly transferring at least a portion of the funds to another school (I was planning on starting up in Seattle for winter quarter) - but something tells me the money is gone.
It was almost as if I was being reminded that I had made a decision. I had two choices - two paths to possibly walk down. Though I had happily chose one, the other refused to be ignored and sent itself in the mail and forced me to look at what I gave up. Such is life.
I feel kind of stupid. However, I’m still very excited about moving.
Yargh. 