2nd year of M.A. program

Hi,
I'm Sonya, and my dream is to become a professor of African American Literature.  I am the first person in my immediate family to graduate from college and attempt to pursue an education beyond that. Currently, I am trying to work toward that goal by getting a Master's degree.  I am studying at California State University, Sacramento and am in my second year of what will be a 3 year program for me.  Last year I had five jobs over the course of the year, usually having two jobs at a time and still only made 16,000 dollars -- 2,000 of which the government thinks I should be able to pay into my own education for the year.

The 16,000 dollars that I did make went to my housing, food, gas, car payment, etc.  Obviously, I was not able to contribute 2000 dollars of my own money to my education, afterall.  I figured that I would be able to make it through the school year, using my student loans to help pay for bills that are in my cost of living. 


Well, for the 2014-2015 school year, I took a job on campus as a resident advisor.  What I knew before taking the job: I would work on campus with students in the residence halls, get to interact with awesome people, have a place to lay my head, and some meals. 
What I didn't realize: because the school reports me as having no living expenses, practically all of my financial aid has been taken away...two weeks before the beginning of the school year.  If I had known all of the facts beforehand, I would have tried to work more, or figured out if I could even have accepted a position as an R.A.

As a grad student, my financial aid consisted of mostly student loans.  Now that my loans have been taken away, I have to come up with $$ to pay for oh, you know...every thing that is not housing and half of my meals.

Speaking of meals -- if that guy can raise 10,000 dollars for potato salad, maybe I can raise 3500 for education!! http://www.torontosun.com/2014/08/08/potato-salad-pandemonium

Now that I have moved out of my apartment and onto campus for the R.A. position, I can't even afford to step down, move back to an apartment and try to re-qualify for the loans.  Hmm, gotta hate those pesky deposits!

Anything that you can give will help guide me and keep me on track to achieving a dream! I will try my best to make all of you proud!

Thank you,
Sonya