Hi everyone,
If you have been following me or paying attention, about two months ago in August, I was suddenly made aware that I was not going to be rewarded my degree. The reason for this being that I somehow ended up with a 6 hour deficit of my required 120 hours, which was devastating, as I had now walked across the graduation stage twice, the second time I had finally felt relieved that everything was done, and that I could now at least find a decent job to live comfortably with my brother in our shared apartment and stop relying on my family for everything.
The issue with the sudden appearance of six additional hours being needed was rather shocking, and again, as I said before, devastating, because I had originally been told that I needed two hours to complete my degree, both of which I took this summer with the knowledge of my family and their financial support. However, they cannot know about the six hours needed, as the consequences would be rather abysmal.
Unfortunately, this now means, that I can’t get any decent work because I now do not have the degree which I was told would be awarded to me at the start of August 2017. So I took it upon myself to sign up for my final semester here, so I could get my and move on with things, unfortunately, with how late I was informed about needing to take these classes, I no longer was able to apply for any financial aid, and the aid I did receive (The Emergency Term Loan) from my college is due December 1st. In reality it just delayed my having to pay the 2870 that is due by the first just barely, and the only payment I have had enough money to make was my first installment plan payment in early september, along with other necessities for college.
At first, I attempted to address this problem with the leaders of my college, trying to see if there was any way around these six hours that were suddenly dropped on me, they unfortunately could not help, and then I was directed to the registrar, who again, could not help because the 120 hours are state mandated, and I attend a public university.
This was the last thing I wanted to do, I pride myself on trying to get by on my own, and this sudden weight was suddenly crushing me to the point of making me physically ill, and unfortunately (not to sound dramatic) suicidal. I worked hard for this degree, counted my hours meticulously, looked over my degree plan multiple times a semester, and fought with myself tooth and nail because of the overwhelming feeling of walking around with undiagnosed Clinical Depression and GAD while attending college 6 hours away from home. Things have not always been great for me, and when this happened all I did was break down because it felt like another knife in my gut thanks to my college.
Everything that I could have done to be able to take care of this on my own has been done, I have been trying to get commissions to pay for this with work that I do, but I have unfortunately had low turnout, and the commissions I did recieve went into paying my first installment, the initial fees to sign up for the installment plan, and my books and supplies for the classes I am in. Currently I am still in the search for a regular job, but have not heard back from any place that I have applied to, so I have no one else to turn to.
My degree is hanging in the balance here, I can’t ask family for help because of how my family is, and I do not make enough money to be able to pay for all of this on my own, and I am more than willing to provide art to repay everyone who donates even small amounts.
Thank you for your attention, thank you for your support, Thank you for everything.
Sam (Wally)
