Last year, I was informed that funding was going to be less than ever before, and if I wanted to continue in school I would have to acquire loans with which to do so… something that I could not afford to do, considering I already owe a ridiculously large sum of money. At the last minute, I ended up with a really good scholarship and I managed to register last week.

But it is a good thing that we live in a just society where everyone has access to education, right?

Esther,

Thanks for the support–it does mean a lot. I have, as you rightly guessed, talked to family and financial aid, and came up basically blank (though I am trying to work with Anishnabeg Outreach, who may be able to, at the very least, help me find employment).

I will be living with friends, which I had planned anyway. And it’s relatively affordable*, which is a good thing.

—

*I mean, it’s actually spectacularly cheap, but I still don’t have the money right at this moment.

Is there anyone in your family who could help you out?

Also, have you tried talking to someone in financial aid at the school to see what they can do? Maybe there’s some scholarship or other program that you qualify for.

I know those are obvious suggestions and I’m sure you’ve done both but I just thought I’d bring them up.

If you do have to drop out for a semester, I’d try to find the cheapest safe living arrangement possible – perhaps with a relative or good friend – and get a full-time job where you can save most of what you earn.

Take care of yourself and don’t lose hope. Wish I had more wisdom or help to offer.

@winged No, I agree with you on your point re: people who trust each other. I just find that a lot of the time when I use the word “relationship”, people parse it as “romantic/sexual”, which…I don’t agree with. But I wanted to be clear that I wasn’t excluding ties that don’t follow that model.

I’m not exactly a “new pie” feminist, however, though, so I don’t disagree with arguing for marriage as a stepping stone, though, in a society wherein these rights are conferred via marriage — I just think that perhaps we are going about it the wrong way (since if we continue to go down this road all these disparate groups are, one at a time, going to have to argue for marriage — and the ones who don’t WANT to have a committment ceremony with each other are STILL left out) and that we need to start demanding these rights be taken out of the context of marriage.

As a side note, I think “people who trust eachother intimately” ARE in a relationship. It might not be a sexual-romantic relationship, but it is a relationship. At least, I would define my love-relationships with my friends as real relationships. It bothers me a little when people refer to couples in monogamous (or even poly) sexual relationships as ‘in relationships’ and to close friends as ‘not in relationships’.

Thank you for writing this. You are just the absolute best.