Keep me in school!
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College can be a financial strain on most students, even those considered to be an adult student. I am what you would consider an adult student. My entire childhood, I’ve always known what I wanted to be when I grew up, a Veterinarian. Caring for animals has been my passion my whole life. I started working with animals at the young age of fourteen. I saw the good times and all the bad of the veterinary field and still, it didn’t deter me from my dream of one day becoming the doctor. Fast-forward sixteen years later and yet here I am attempting to chase my dreams once again.
My husband is a disabled veteran who served this country for almost six years. Two years after we met, I attempted to go back to school to fulfill my dreams of becoming a Veterinarian. Unfortunately, it was cut very short as my husband contracted Lyme Disease in Northern Florida while on an active duty training mission. He became so ill so fast, that they discharged him in a matter of months. We did not receive compensation for over a year, which forced me to work fifty-five plus hours a week. Working at two separate veterinary clinics to make sure we didn’t lose our apartment was tiresome, but I had to do what I had to do to make ends meet. I also took on pet sitting jobs for extra money, for those that did not want to board their animals.
Feeling overworked and helpless as my husbands condition continued to deteriorate, he’s not a big man as is but the weight loss was tremendous. There were days that I thought he was going to die. He didn’t have the strength to get out of bed, eat or drink. All the doctors that we saw were very reluctant about his treatment. I vividly remember one of the infectious disease doctors questioning us about the size of the tick that bit my husband, almost in a demeaning fashion.
After a year or so of attempting to treat my husband in Florida, we realized that Lyme Disease was not as prevalent in the South. We made a very hard and scary decision to move to upstate New York. We knew moving up here was going to be a financial burden, but we were willing to do anything to get my husband healthy again. I found a job that paid decent money and we found a few doctors that we felt comfortable with.
We have lived here for two years now and I felt we were stable and settled enough that I could again go after my life long dream. I informed my company that I have been working for, that I wanted to go back to school as they said they were pro education. I excitedly told my superior my plans to return to school and offered to work thirty-seven hours a week. I was then told that it would be unfair to other associates if I worked the schedule I provided them. I was so distraught in the answer I received. I spilled my heart out, but they didn’t care. We respectively went our separate ways.
With my husband having earned military benefits for school, we applied for them to be transferred over to me. I also applied for financial aid. I was denied both. I am currently in the works of an appeal, but these things take time. We are trying to gather enough doctors’ notes and information to prove that my husband has struggled and is still struggling with his health.
I have never been so determined to make my dreams come true. Becoming a veterinarian is something I need to do. I don’t want to go through life regretting what I could have or should have done. With the help of kind hearted people I know I can and will provide a better life for my family. I am swallowing my pride and asking for help. Thank you for reading!
My husband is a disabled veteran who served this country for almost six years. Two years after we met, I attempted to go back to school to fulfill my dreams of becoming a Veterinarian. Unfortunately, it was cut very short as my husband contracted Lyme Disease in Northern Florida while on an active duty training mission. He became so ill so fast, that they discharged him in a matter of months. We did not receive compensation for over a year, which forced me to work fifty-five plus hours a week. Working at two separate veterinary clinics to make sure we didn’t lose our apartment was tiresome, but I had to do what I had to do to make ends meet. I also took on pet sitting jobs for extra money, for those that did not want to board their animals.
Feeling overworked and helpless as my husbands condition continued to deteriorate, he’s not a big man as is but the weight loss was tremendous. There were days that I thought he was going to die. He didn’t have the strength to get out of bed, eat or drink. All the doctors that we saw were very reluctant about his treatment. I vividly remember one of the infectious disease doctors questioning us about the size of the tick that bit my husband, almost in a demeaning fashion.
After a year or so of attempting to treat my husband in Florida, we realized that Lyme Disease was not as prevalent in the South. We made a very hard and scary decision to move to upstate New York. We knew moving up here was going to be a financial burden, but we were willing to do anything to get my husband healthy again. I found a job that paid decent money and we found a few doctors that we felt comfortable with.
We have lived here for two years now and I felt we were stable and settled enough that I could again go after my life long dream. I informed my company that I have been working for, that I wanted to go back to school as they said they were pro education. I excitedly told my superior my plans to return to school and offered to work thirty-seven hours a week. I was then told that it would be unfair to other associates if I worked the schedule I provided them. I was so distraught in the answer I received. I spilled my heart out, but they didn’t care. We respectively went our separate ways.
With my husband having earned military benefits for school, we applied for them to be transferred over to me. I also applied for financial aid. I was denied both. I am currently in the works of an appeal, but these things take time. We are trying to gather enough doctors’ notes and information to prove that my husband has struggled and is still struggling with his health.
I have never been so determined to make my dreams come true. Becoming a veterinarian is something I need to do. I don’t want to go through life regretting what I could have or should have done. With the help of kind hearted people I know I can and will provide a better life for my family. I am swallowing my pride and asking for help. Thank you for reading!
Organizer
Alison Schwanz
Organizer
Cairo, NY
