Wednesday, I had to talk to the Dean of Registration about a situation concerning my financial-aid and it was at that meeting that I realized just how bad the situation with our state cutbacks is. I've heard the news about the 2.3 billion dollar deficit that the state of Florida has and obviously their solution to make-up for that "missing" money is by making budget cuts on state and local levels. The only thing is that the cuts are being made in the programs that we need the most like education (1/2 billion dollars) and health care. The Dean informed me of the strict guidelines that I had to follow in order to keep my financial aid. I receive Bright Future's Scholarship and this is the first time out of the 4 semesters that I've been at Chipola that I have requested financial aid; eventhough it has been a tough process,the extra money is great to pay for the books I need.The reason that she gave for the strict concerns for Florida financial-aid recipients was that the educational budget cuts that are being made are causing our state and local officials to look real close at the recipients of financial aid.She said when Chipola is audited, if even a small percentage of the students are not inside these guidelines then financial aid can be taken away from the entire college.I found that to be a shock so I went home and talked to my family about her comments and the situation. Cedrik, my fiancee tried to consul my negative feelings about Florida's future educational funding cuts. He said "Atleast our son (now 8 months old) would be able to get all the funding he needs for his education because if it doesn't improve, we'll just move out of the state of Florida and it will be better." Although I wanted so bad to believe that, I had to face the fact that this economic crisis is a national situation and that affects all 50 states' governments; which therefore also effects their local governments and there is no running away from it. We can only be patient and wait for a change, but mostly be patient.*Sorry if this blog was long. I just feel so strongly about this topic because I have to be concerned about my educational future as well my son's and family's.
Janai Mills
POS 2112
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Janai, please let me tell you to be optimistic about our country and your own personal economic and educational future. I am currently registered at TCC, but my first and only previous college attendance was in 1948.There was no such thing as Financial Aid or food stamps. Uncle Sam separated me from my pre med studies and after a bit of armed conflict and other life I am back to school. At one time, my Dad, a teacher was paid in script (city printed money) because there were no U.S. dollars available. The good old U.S.A. struggled, and struggled, and made mistakes, but we made it through as you can bear witness to by considering some very good times in your lifetime. As we study Comparative Politics I am sure we will find that compared to many other nations we are, actually, to be envied. The only "absolute” in life is “change”. Isn’t that a paradox? Our individual right and responsibility is to see that the change is in a direction we choose. The U.S.A. and even Florida is a good place to live.
Kenneth Frisbie Jr
POS2001 T-R-8:30 AM
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