logoFAFSA for every student
  • FAFSA TRACKER
  • WHAT WORKS
  • THE GUIDE
  • GET SOCIAL
  • MORE RESOURCES

Author: Chris Hunter

Danica: Leaving High School with No Regrets

Posted on November 1, 2018November 8, 2018 by Chris Hunter
Danica: Leaving High School with No Regrets

“I’m part of the New Mexico Leadership Institute, and we have to volunteer on an issue in New Mexico. I chose to work with a nonprofit organization that helps women break out of unhealthy or abusive relationships,” Danica says.

“I felt that was my way to give back. A lot of the women have the same personal background as my parents. Seeing the women actually trying to improve their lives was very important to me.”

Danica says she had a difficult upbringing with her biological parents. “My guardians are now my grandma and godmother. When I was with my mom — she was a teen mom — education wasn’t my top priority. I felt I had to take care of her rather than myself.”

“Once I got in a stable home, I realized that education is so important. I saw people around me that did jobs they didn’t like and had to work their butts off. I realized education is the key to success and having a career that’s your passion.”

Explaining the FAFSA to her grandmother and godmother

“My school had a great college and career counselor named Ms. Delgadillo. When senior year came, she would advertise and go around the school to make sure students were on top of things that were important. One of those was the FAFSA.”

Danica remembers, “When I first heard about the FAFSA, I thought it was going to be long — way longer than it was. And I didn’t really know it was for financial aid for college. It was good that Ms. Delgadillo explained what it was.”

Danica started the FAFSA at school and then went home to fill out the rest.

“My grandmother and my godmother were very, very confused. They were asking, ‘What is this FAFSA, and why are they asking these questions?’ It asks personal questions and for tax information and everything,” she explains.

“I had to explain to them that FAFSA is something I have to do in the college process in order to get some money to pay for some college classes. Once they heard that, they were on board.”

Getting past the awkward wording

“Just understanding and answering the questions correctly took some time. The wording was awkward,” Danica recalls.

“Like, on the tax form, there is certain information you need. On the FAFSA, it asks for that http://www.myhealthy365.com/buy-tramadol-uk/ information, but it doesn’t exactly line up so it was hard to locate on the tax form.”

Danica went to Ms. Delgadillo for help. “I answered what I could, and then went back to my counselor to get it finished. It was tricky because I messed up on one of the questions, so I had to go back and fix it later.”

“When I found out what I was getting from the FAFSA, it was the weekend. My counselor texted me to check how much I got, so I did. I ran to my grandma and godmother and was like, ‘Look!’”

“I thought I wasn’t going to get as much aid as I did. I was glad I didn’t let the challenge of filling out the FAFSA stop me.”

Danica remembers how happy they all were. “They said, ‘That’s the form we spent a day filling out with our taxes?’ and I said, ‘Yeah!’ They were so excited. It’s a burden off their shoulders. I will be the first one going to college in my family. They said I’ll be a role model to my younger siblings, nieces and nephews.”

“I thought I wasn’t going to get as much aid as I did. I was very thankful and glad I didn’t let the challenge of filling out the FAFSA stop me.”

Danica’s advice: It’s worth the time

“A lot of people think, why even do the FAFSA? Because everything counts. Whatever you can get for college counts because college is very expensive and it is really helpful getting something when your parents don’t have it. It might surprise them to see what they can get in the end,” says Danica.

“It took some time. Creating an account took me a day, another day filling out the questions I could understand, and the last day getting help from my counselor. But those three days to get as much as I did was definitely worth it.”

“It feels like I have no regrets leaving high school. I am so ready to begin the next chapter of my life.”

Danica will be attending the University of New Mexico. She hasn’t declared a major, but hopes to go to graduate school and pursue a career as an obstetrician/gynecologist, therapist or in another health field.

Posted in Student StoriesLeave a Comment on Danica: Leaving High School with No Regrets

Brooklyann: Trusting Other People With My Story

Posted on October 24, 2018November 6, 2018 by Chris Hunter
Brooklyann: Trusting Other People With My Story

“My grandma has been to college — she didn’t complete it. My mom has been to college — she didn’t complete it,” says Brooklyann. “It’s not so much about them going, as them going and actually completing it.”

Even though Brooklyann always knew she wanted to be a pediatrician, she was worried about her own college dreams.

“My relationship with my mom started to turn and I got put in foster care when I was 16. I was in four different homes before I got placed with my cousin at 17. I was more focused on just graduating. I didn’t have anybody I could go to for help with college. I don’t speak to my mom.”

“When an alumni from my high school came to talk to us about college and financial aid, I was like, I am never going to be able to get that. I really didn’t think I’d be able to get any assistance because I thought your parents were the ones who helped you into college; they help you pay for things.”

She was nervous about asking for help. “I am a closed off person. I don’t wear my feelings on my sleeve.”

Getting the courage to try

But the more Brooklyann thought about the prospect of being in Columbus her whole life, the more she knew she had to try.

“I was like, I need to get the ball rolling on what’s next for me. It is nobody’s choice but my own to decide what I’m going to do with my life after high school.”

She looked at the FAFSA online to see if she could apply for financial aid, but she didn’t know how to answer the questions about her parents since she’s in foster care.

The next day, during study hall, she grabbed two friends and went to talk to Mrs. Rolle, her school’s college advisor from I Know I Can.

What she learned about the FAFSA

Mrs. Rolle helped break down how financial aid works for Brooklyann and showed her the requirements for different colleges.

The biggest thing Mrs. Rolle helped with? “I didn’t know, but there was a box to check if you’re in foster care,” Brooklyann said. She didn’t have to enter any of her parents’ personal or income information to complete the FAFSA. She and Mrs. Rolle filled it out together.

She found out she was eligible for nearly $25,000. Some of that came from the Pell Grant — money she wouldn’t have to pay back — and work-study programs, loans and other financial aid.

“I was happy. I really wanted to cry,” she remembers. “Even though I’ve been through some crazy situations, in the end it has all worked out. A year ago, you couldn’t have told me I’d be going off to college. You never know until you try.”

Brooklyann’s advice: Be heard

Brooklyann has advice for other foster youth who dream of going to college, too. “The best thing I did was come and talk to Mrs. Rolle and tell her about my situation.”

“Be heard. Speak out. Don’t be afraid to tell somebody your business or your story. I know how it feels when you just want to keep information to yourself because you have a lot going on at home.” Opening up was what allowed Mrs. Rolle to know exactly how to help.

“I’ve been through some crazy situations. A year ago, you couldn’t have told me I’d be going off to college.”

“I was prejudging and thinking that she couldn’t help. I was really scared of the process, and I think a lot of times we run away from things because we’re scared. But in the end it wasn’t bad at all. Mrs. Rolle has been there for me, helping me keep track of everything.”

“One day, I hope I can come back and talk to my whole school about how financial aid and college have helped me.”

Brooklyann will be studying nursing at Ohio State University. She hopes to one day go to medical school.

Posted in Student StoriesLeave a Comment on Brooklyann: Trusting Other People With My Story

Recent Posts

  • FAFSA Renewals Down 12%, Nearly 900,000 Students Through March 31
  • Karina: From Rehab to College
  • 5 Key Components of State FAFSA Challenges
  • North Carolina Model Offers Promising Statewide Approach to Driving FAFSA Completion
  • NCAN’s FAFSA Tracker Returns for 5th Year Hoping for a Trendline Turnaround

Recent Comments

    Archives

    • April 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • January 2021
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018

    Categories

    • Data
    • FAFSA Pros
    • Student Stories
    • Uncategorized
    • What Works

    Meta

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org

    #FORMYOURFUTURE is sponsored by

    National College access Network

    About Privacy Policy
    cc creative commons

    Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International license and a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International license.

    © 2023 NCAN. All rights reserved.