I know that it has been a while, over a month, since my last post. A lot has happened, but mostly I have been working late and just trying to keep from sinking into debt. I'm sure that many of you can relate to my situation. Credit cards and student loans are the bane of finances.
I graduated from college in May of 2014. Yay! I have a degree! A shiny piece of paper tucked away in a frame that, like many people who graduate, I haven't been able to do anything with, yet.
In fact, I have had a long battle with the university I graduated from. I went to school to become an elementary teacher. I fought the college to graduate and even the day of graduation, I wasn't sure that my name was going to be on the list. My Godmother had come up just to see me walk and my husband and mother-in-law were there as well. Thankfully, I was able to graduate, after tens of phone calls, pulling higher names and praying that I wouldn't fall on my face in high heels as I walked to recieve my fake degree. (Which, by the way turned out to be some "welcome to the alumni association" paper). As I walked up, the Dean of the College of education handed me the rolled up paper, grinned and said, "I see they couldn't keep you out. You deserve it, now smile!" The camera flashed and I walked on with pride. She had helped me in my battle to graduate.
Today, I am still fighting the university, pulling higher names and trying not to drown in the feeling of utter failure and hopelessness.
In March, the registrar's office took me out of my student teaching seminar, without my knowledge or permission. They refunded me the money (after the refund date had LONG past) and then put me back in. All the while, I was still attending my seminars, unaware that any of this had been going on. I was a good girl and did my taxes. The money I had been refunded was very close to the same amount I was to receive from taxes, So, when I looked in my bank, I thought nothing of it and used the money to pay some bills I was behind on (because it was the university policy that I wasn't to work while student teaching. Understandable but frustrating). When my taxes were actually returned to me, it was far less than what I expected, some of it had been garnished to pay a bill that I forgot. This confused me and when I realized the mistake, I paid the univeristy all of my return, which only covered half of what I had used. Since then, I have tried to reason with the college and either convince them to drop the charges because it was their mistake or set up a payment plan that I could afford.
They refused both, wanting the payment in full.
Here is where it gets more frustrating.
I work a minimum wage job, part time. I would love to work full time but there aren't enough hours and I'm looking for a second job. So is everyone else. I am not yet certified to teach, because I need to observe in an Urban classroom for 40 hours. I live in a very rural area and the closest urban school is an hour away and we barely have enough gas in the tank to get me to and from work. However, I can substitute teach. In order to complete the application, I have to have my transcripts from the university.
Here's the frustrating part.
Becasue of the university's mess up, I now have an overdue account AND I can't get my transcripts. So, that means I can't sub, which means I can't pay the university for their mistake and mine.
Granted, I should have returned all of the money but it was an honest mistake on my part. I would have never been mistaken had the university not messed with my class schedule. If they didn't do that...I would be substituting in classrooms and I would probably have my hours finished. Which means, that had the university not messed up, I would be certified to teach, right now.
But nothing worthwhile was ever obtained without a fight, it seems. I was born to teach. I want nothing more than to teach. I love teaching. I love my students. I love working with teachers who have the same passion I do, and someday soon I will be able to do what I was born to do. First, I have to fight for it.
And believe me, education IS something worth fighting for.
