Hello, I’m Luis Garcia. My current goals are to be a doctor – a surgeon. My plan is to do my pre-requirements in Highline College. I don’t want to spend that much money on university… like 10,000 per quarter… It’s too much money.
The WASFA was really helpful for me, because I don’t have much money. Just my mom works, and she needs to pay the lawyer, the room, food, many things, so she cannot spend money for me. So my options are just work and study. But if I work, and study, and work in Entry Advising and do many things, it’s not possible. Because I am an immigrant student, I work in the college, but they don’t pay me. I am volunteering. The other students get paid, because they have social security. I know many people who don’t receive any help, so they need to work, to choose just one or two classes, and that is not good for them.
When I received the help and money from WASFA, I had more time to concentrate, to put all of my attention in my classes, my homework, and learning. I know many, many people that say ‘sorry, I cannot study because I need to get money for my food, for the room, for anything. I cannot also pay the college. I need to work more, because I need to pay the college.” If they have two years free, they say “I just need to work for my necessities, I don’t need to pay for college.” They would have more time.
If they receive that help, more people can go to college. For example, people older than 30 say “I cannot study because I need to care for my child, I need to work for food,” but if they receive help in food and transportation, they say “it doesn’t matter if I am older, I can go be a student.” Because I know many older people want to study, but they need to pay for food for their child and many things. If you are older, or have a child, it is more responsibility, so you need more help.
The problem is, if my dream is to study and go to college, and I don’t receive any help, I need to work. But what happens if I cannot work? Not for my decision, but because I don’t have social security. How can I get money if I cannot work? Immigrant students can be really helpful for the country. They have goals, they can do it. If they don’t have the opportunity, how will you know if they will be a good doctor?
Luis Garcia, Auburn