Invest in Yourself: Overcome Financial Hurdles to Afford College

AUDIO:   https://empowerminty.gumroad.com/l/idayf For many women, healing includes leaving the confinements of their current "comfort z...

AUDIO: https://empowerminty.gumroad.com/l/idayf

For many women, healing includes leaving the confinements of their current "comfort zone".

In this recording, I talk about the possibility of attending and graduating from a 2 and 4-year college without racking up large student loan tabs.  I could not agree more that college is too expensive.  There are a lot of things about college that is completely unfair, unjust, and out of balance,

That said, college has and continues to be a viable tool that allows many people a way out of what binds them. I can relate to this. I owe so much of who I am today to my college education.  Trades and certificates can offer the same mobility.  

I am a HUGE fan of trades and certification  programs for women.  I started my education in legal assisting through certification. 

As for trades, I have served a few women needing domestic violence advocacy working in construction trades including welding.  One thing that was different about them is that we didn't have to spend a lot of time going over financial provisions or what would happen after the breakup. How would they afford their bills on one income?

They typically made great money and had excellent benefits. Also, as for support, these women seemed to feel that they would be supported by their co-workers who were mostly blue-collar males.  They had actually avoided telling them in an effort to keep the peace. 

(Disclaimer: This was my professional experience)

To fund your college education:

• Sign up for free services to send you email alerts for scholarship opportunities.  Apply for even the small scholarships because they add up. Also being awarded a small scholarship is a huge mental boost to help you keep applying. Fuel.
• Contact your elected officials. They may have a list of funding opportunities you may not be aware of.
• Let everyone around you know that you are looking for funding.  You never know who the people around you know and what funding opportunities they know about. 
• If you are a minority, disabled, have a talent, a hobby, a unique interest, lost a parent, .....just comb your entire life.  Whatever your circumstance, there might well be some money out there.  Apply, apply, apply.
• Looking for money can get overwhelming, so sometimes it helps to make it a group effort. OR, those friends or family who have offered to help but can't give cash, ask them if they can assist you in hunting down funding opportunities.
• Get to know the folks who work in the financial aid department. Be friendly. Be patient. Be respectful.  They are on the frontlines of funding opportunities before anyone else knows about them.
• Do well in school.  You never know when an opportunity may come up for you to apply for a job in your field. For some positions, you can be hired as a student and the employer may pay for you to continue your education part-time. 

On an online search can give you so many more tips. Talk to  folks that work at the college and people who have funded their educations. It can be done. 

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