I was sitting in my public speaking class enduring the various speeches made by my fellow students. Then this one girl gat up and spoke about student financial aid. She said that it normally takes students 5-6 years to graduate college, and if they did summer classes, they could finish in 3-4 years. Her point was that the government does not offer financial aid for summer classes and they should do so. Then it got personal. She said that has not recieved enough financial aid as it is even though she gets benefits bacause her dad was in Vietnam. Since she can get no aid for summer classes, she has no "income" over the summer. At this point, she broke down crying and said that the government needs to do more to fund her education.

I could not believe what I was seeing. This girl was crying because she was not getting enough money from the government. Her case basically says "I am entitled to this money for my education," yet she has done nothing to earn it. It does not help that she is getting money for what her dad whent through in Vietnam. I am really sick of people thinking that they are entitled to free money from the government.

My opinion on this matter ranges from a wide range of things. My family was not that affluent and my mom couldn' pay my way through college, so I went into the military. I do not consider that free entitlements since I could have come home in a body bag during my time in Iraq. Then there is the fact that high school has become a factory for sending kids to school. Seeing the attitudes and intelligence of a many college students, I can safely say many do not need to be there. It's the guy or chick that is at college to party and has a 2.0 that gets all these wonderful grants from the government for their "higer education" of budwiser and absolute. The fact that about 30% of freshmen do not comeback for their 2nd year supports my claim that not everyone needs to be in college.

My ramblings are over with and I am stepping off the soap box for someone elses turn.

Cheers

Doody

Originally Posted by Doody

She said that it normally takes students 5-6 years to graduate college, and if they did summer classes, they could finish in 3-4 years.

Five to six years to finish for undergrad while attending full time?!? Maybe she should stop attending so many keggers.

Doody

I see what trying to say, but I look at the otherside of the coin.

The average private college is about $30,000 a year. Public school tuition is also rapidly rising. Its becoming so that only the wealthy can afford to go to school without financial aid. I didnt qualify for aid so my poor father had to cough up the dough by borrowing it for both my sister and I. Some people got a BMW to go to college as a graduation present, I got to go, period, and I'm greatful for that.

Family incomes and savings are all on the decline so it becomes increasing harder to pay the college tuition bills. So how else can middle class America afford to go to college? The US Govornment spends billions on pork from bridges to knowhere to pet defense projects whose use is only political, such as our missile shield.

I personally would be in favour of limiting this waste and redirecting some of this money towards peoples education. The people going into college today is the nation's future.

While I am in all in favor that organisations such as the military offer incentives, I dont think the military should be the ONLY method, espically right now as there is a small chance a personmight return alive or intact.

I cede the soapbox...

Being a highschool student enterting college soon, Im kinda torn. On one hand my conservatism sides completely with doody, but I know unless I join the military going to college is going to be a pain. Im not a dumby and may get a few scholarships but, in all likelyhood not nearly enough to go through school entirely on. I live in a single parent house-hold and investments starting at age 6 have given me a pretty solid amount of cash to go on. However, money from the government sure would be appreciated. I dont feel entitled, I would just appreciate it.

I have no desires to join the military. If called on by my government I will, but other wise its just not for me. Call me a wussy and you'd probally be right.

My school (California State University Long Beach) offers grants for summer classes. It's not from the federal government but rather from the school itself to students who show a strong will to succeed (i.e. min GPA 2.5, completed at least 12 units at CSULB, must have declared major, and must be in good standing with the school). Needless to say, it's not too hard to obtain this grant. I was actually granted this offer of $1200 which I am using to knock down 2 classes over the summer. I guess the key thing is that you gotta be somewhat smart and focused then the school will reward you.

As for the girl complaining.... can you say welfare-in-training?

Seriously, it's not too hard to earn a higher education in the US if you make an effort towards it. Be glad you do not live in China where if you do not get an extremely high score on the college entrance exam, then you will probably be doing acrobatic stunts at Disney World, Florida for the rest of your life.

Originally Posted by doody

Her case basically says "I am entitled to this money for my education," yet she has done nothing to earn it.

If she is entitled to the money, the government should pay up! If the gov. doesn't want to pay up, the they shouldn't entitle it to students. But for the rest I think she is a whino! Practically all of my college and uni-friends had jobs to support themselves. Just to sit there and wait untill you get enough is not the proper attitude! Maybe she was already working triple shifts, but it would have helped if she would say so.

I earned my ride through college like Doody and feel no sympathy for this little girl. Her dad should have raised her to be more than a victim.

You guys are harsh.

Originally Posted by Ted

If she is entitled to the money, the government should pay up! If the gov. doesn't want to pay up, the they shouldn't entitle it to students. But for the rest I think she is a whino! Practically all of my college and uni-friends had jobs to support themselves. Just to sit there and wait untill you get enough is not the proper attitude! Maybe she was already working triple shifts, but it would have helped if she would say so.

She's not entitled to a free education. She's getting the benefits her father earned, she's not entitled to those. The government does this as a way of saying "thanks." It's a gift to her, from her father. And from what Doody says, she's getting that plus other aid, but feels it isn't enough.

I'm sorry, but the government has no obligation to educate people. If people would only spend a few hours plowing through all of the grants out there, it's pretty easy to get the government to pay for your education if you take the time to apply for the millions of grants out there.

My sister got through medical school with only 10K debt (from an Ivy league school) thanks to scholarships and *tada* grants.

Student loans aren't hard to get, either, and most don't require you to pay until after you graduate.

I think it's just a case of people being lazy, wanting and feeling like the government is supposed to do for them instead of them doing for themselves.

Back to that personal responsibility thing.

Ted's right, she's a whiney baby. (whino is a drunk here )

Originally Posted by Rabs

Call me a wussy and you'd probally be right.

Wussy. Just kidding. It's good you recognize what you do and do not what to do. There's plenty of ways to help your country that don't require someone to be in the military. Not everyone is cut out for it, just like not everyone is cut out to be a lawyer, doctor, activist, etc. You aren't any worse, or any better because you don't feel the military is for you. Good luck with school! (Make sure you check out all of the grants out there, coming from a single parent home, you'll be eligible for a lot)

I would suggest getting used to it, its a harsh world once you leave home.