Thinking of your family before thinking of yourself...

[Sakura-chan]

Okay, well I just got some really bad news tonight. My only sister, who just started university this year, might be forced to stop her studies. The government who usually provides financial aid to students, just dropped all aid towards my sis for various reasons.

Now, she can't pay her tuition fees that are due in only 5 days . As her sis... I just think this is unfair... and I have been pondering the thought of helping her finance her university.

I normally wouldn't hesitate, I'm the type that thinks of others before myself... but now the problem is I'm already in a tight situation myself, so will I be able to handle two sets of tuition fees and two sets of expenses?

Some might call this compassion, but I am honestly thinking of selling some serious stuff to save my sister's future. My parents are already in financial troubles, so they can't help her. And if I don't, her artistic career is over . She's a wonderful artist and she draws things I never thought a 19-yr old could draw...

What would you do? Would you be ready to give up some serious cel collecting? I know I would. But still, it hurts a bit.

(Here's a drawing that my sis did, just so you get what I mean by real talent.)

[ReiTheJelly]

That's really sad. I would hope that they'll give her an extension on her payments, since this news is rather sudden. Also, if she's willing to put in the hours, a friend of mine paid for a portion of her college my filing for TONS of scholarship money online. A lot of institutions are willing to give small amounts, so if you fill out enough applications it really adds up to some good cash! Also, if you're thinking of selling anything, shoot me an e-mail ok?

[Cloud]

""? Is sad?

[kittens]

When I was taking an extrance exam for universities (I was 18 years old), just before 2 weeks to the exam, my dad had a heart attack. My mom could not work and my young sis was in a high school. So I was the only one who could manage our family business. So I stopped going to university which was very hard dicision since Japan is not like here. Your age matter. If you are older than like 22 years old, it is almost impossible to go to a university..... (when I was in japan).

My dream was always becoming a mathematician. So I was so sad to quit taking exams and help my parents. But I did. I gave up the exam and I helped my parents' business for 5 years.

After 5 years, my dad was finally fine and my parents could manage a bussiness by themself so I came here to go to a university. I got into UC Berkeley. But I came here pretty late.

I am 35 years old which is really old for mathematicians. I wish I did not have to go thru 5 years working in Japan. I wish I could go to a university to start early. But I think this was a good experience......

I think one year or two years difference does not make so different at the end. Yeah I started a little bit late but at the end, it does not matter. So I think even if your sister starts a bit late I think she will be fine at the end

[Cloud]

Tell me more. Will you finish a little bit late but at the end it does not matter.

[Lynxa]

Has she checked out Fastweb? (www.fastweb.com) I found some really good scholarships there. Also, has she talked to her financial aid office? They're usually very good at finding out solutions.

This is a strange time of year to find out she's not getting aid Maybe something could be worked out with her tutor? She is a wonderful artist, maybe she could barter? Does she (or you) absolutely NEED a tutor?

Cels are just possessions and you can always get more when you're out of college and making more money! I can't think of a more noble reason than helping family. (...but try to think of other alternatives first ).


Good luck!!!! Things have a way of working out.

[Sakura-chan]

Thanks everyone for your reply. Just one clarification : around here we call our university professors "tutors" and so tutor fees are just the university fees we pay to receive teaching from them. They're the same as "tuition fees" XD, maybe I should have cleared that first. I'll change it in my post to avoid confusion lol.

Second, my sis lost her aid for various reasons I will not completely discuss here, as it's very complicated. It involves a lot of variables, including my dad's salary and my sis' summer job salary.

Either way, the government just recalculated and they decided she didn't need all that money *like if it was a lot to start with* and so they stopped giving her mensual money deposits.

I haven't tried any website for scholarships and such, I don't know if these also work for Canadians... but I'll check it out.

And Kittens, normally I would agree with you about waiting 1 or 2 years. But the problem is if she stops studying for any reason, the government asks that she repays all the debts she accumulated from them, so my sis would have to work more than just 1-2 years to pay for them all. That's just how it works here.

We're trying to see if any institution would agree to lend her some credit as it has been done for me, but I'm in medical school, where it's much more easier to get money than any other university program.

Let's hope for the best. My sis is already working to try and accumulate enough money to stay in her university.

[Cloud]

And. I assume you mean our current problem.

[Sakura-chan]

And. I assume you mean our current problem.

Our?? Cloud, there never was a we XD... stop stalking me!!!!! Oh well, at least the humor lightens up the mood.

[Cloud]

Yes Val I think that is what I meant. Was it not clear?

[Sakura-chan]

Yes Val I think that is what I meant. Was it not clear?

Okay you are definitely freaking me out O_o...

[zerospace]

Oh no!!! Sakura that's just awful news... I don't suppose you can get additional student loans in Canada, can you? *huggles* I really hope you and your sis can work something out that she can stay in school.

[Kujaku]

So then it wasn't financial aid that she had. They were loans. I always thought they gave a year to pay those? Please don't mind me. I'm slightly sick and not thinking straight @_@

[klet]

So then it wasn't financial aid that she had. They were loans.

Well, technically, the government considers loans they give out "financial aid." At least, in the US they do.

I always thought they gave a year to pay those? Please don't mind me. I'm slightly sick and not thinking straight @_@

In the US they do. I imagine that the Canadian schooling system is different from here. They are another country.

Sakura-chan, I'm sorry to hear all of this!!! I don't think fastweb will have many scholarships for you, but this looks to be the Canadian version of it:

http://www.scholarshipscanada.com/

One quick tip for online scholarships--anything asking you to pay a fee to apply, even if it's just $5, is probably a scam.

I hope everything works out.

[Sakura-chan]

Thanks Klet for the nice words and all of you as well!! I do not know how much time they give to repay the loans, but the problem is not really the time they give us, but the fact that as soon as you stop your studies, you have to repay them. So in the end, the result is the same, my sis will be forced to work for a longer period to repay all these and then restart university. She can't possibly be able to pay for the loans and pay her studies at the same time. Dunno if that's clear . Feel free to shout if it isn't .

Finally, they aren't all loans. We get the first part as loans and then a second part as "free cash" that we don't have to repay. The government cut her on both.

We have been trying to find an institution to finance my sis for the past days. I should have more news in the next days. Right now, I'm gonna take a break and worry about myself *wipes sweat*. It seems everything is not going well and on top of this, other cel community matters had to jump in too *sigh*.

*puts her nose back into her art commissions*