I was born in to a poor family. My mom has a blindness disease called stargardt and my dad was the only one working. I was born in windber , pa then moved to Alexandria , Va when my dad got a job at an apartment complex. I live there until the end of 3rd grade. That summer my parents were going through a speration and my mom moved back to Pennsylvania with me and my sister.

My father would help out by providing money to my mom for food and rent but we relied on food stamps and her social security check to get by.

My sister wasn’t happy in pa and moved back in with my dad then after my mother chose to live with an alcoholic I had to leave (her choice). I moved in with my farther.

He couldn’t afford the rent in Alexandria anymore with 2 kids, food and bills. He met a woman online and after a few months they met and he was dating her. Thought living with her was a nightmare.

My partners made me get a job when I was 16. I couldn’t have a car until I bought one my self and my parents would not let me get my drivers license until I was 18.

The summer when I graduated high school I was told by my “step mother” that I was being kicked out. It was either college or work but I wasn’t staying there.

I knew college would welcome opportunities beyond my current education so I went that route. I applied to WVU and was accepted by had to attend a smaller school called Potoma State College of WVU. I bought a car in June and by August it had died so I was careless and my parents wouldn’t help in anyway.

I had no money. My parents wouldn’t help me out. So I took out student loans. At one point I was kicked out of WVU because I still owed 1,000 for a semester and my “step mother” convinced my father not to help me. So I could not get a co signer on the load and was kicked out of school. I couldn’t transfer because my transcripts were being held for ransom by WVU for the tuition payment. So I had no choice but to move back in with my “step mother” and farther.

My parents had since moved to a new area (a new house was being built) but they were living in a cabin until then. Yet they couldn’t help me out with tuition and left all my personal items (from when to college) out side. The natural elements (rain and heat) had destroyed all my cloths , electronics , toys etc.. everything was gone and they never cared.

I never wanted to go back. I knew I had to move forward and the only way to do that was by education. So I got a job at a local casino, repaid wvu, and worked full time and finally was able to go back to school.

I changed my degree 3 times and finally settled on graphic and web design.

I’ve had issue off and in with employment. I’ve never mad more than 15.00 an hour and with a car payment , rent, food. It’s impossible to make a 350 dollar student loan payment. I’ve had so many deferments on my account and I owe about 75,000. I’ve only been career
Stable for over a year now and still can not afford the $450 monthly payment.