UPDATES

It's been over two weeks since I last posted--the longest I've gone without writing on this blog ever. I wasn't going to write about what's been preventing me from blogging, but decided I would. I didn't want anyone to think that this was one of those things when a blog is randomly abandoned. So not the case. I've wanted to write more than ever, but life has been a little complicated in Bloggal's world lately.

While I was seeing a counselor to cope with my hectic and stressful schedule this past spring, she came to the conclusion that it would be best for me to drop a class mid semester. That way, I could finish strong in the rest of my classes instead of spreading myself thin and only doing so-so in all of them. I took her advice, issued a petition, and surprisingly approved. My doctor supported my petition by providing proof of the "major depressive episode" I was having. Unfortunately, the petition that saved me then, came back to hunt me today.

About two weeks ago, I got a letter in the mail telling me that my financial aid has been suspended. The grounds for suspension wasn't that my GPA was too low, but because of a deficiency of credit hours in my last semester. Because the class I dropped was a 4 credit hour one, I went below the amount that I needed to keep my scholarships. They gave me an opportunity to appeal their decision by writing a personal essay stating the "extenuating circumstances" that prevented me from meeting satisfactory requirements. In addition to that, I had to provide documents that supported my claim. I already submitted my appeal and now I'm pretty much waiting on the verdict.

So, what I'm basically faced with at the moment is the possibility of not having the money to go back to school next semester. Well, not that school anyway. Because if they don't reverse their decision, there's no way in hell I'd be able to afford the $20,000 tuition for the next two years. The way this affects me now is, I'm not exactly sure where I'm going to live when I go back to school. Another unfortunate byproduct of my loss of aid is that I'd no longer receive the money I would use to pay for my living expenses. I know you're probably thinking, Ummmm, don't you go back to school in less than a month, Bloggal? The short answer is yes. Basically, I'm working as much as I possibly can right now to make enough money for first month's rent...wherever I'll be saying. After that, I'm not so sure how I'm going to afford it. My job at the art museum only pays minimum wage, and I won't be putting in too many hours since I'll be a full time student. So, I don't know. That' kind of up in the air too.

The silver lining is, no matter what happens, I'm guaranteed my Fall semester. Even if it means I'll be living in a cardboard box, I'll still be able to go to school for a little while longer. And that's enough to make me smile through this nightmare. I know that probably sounds crazy, but you have to find something--even if it's small--to keep you positive in a negative situation. I know that, whatever happens, I'll have some kind of testimony out of this. And as cliche and corny as this sounds, I'm sure I'm facing this for a reason. If my appeal isn't approved, maybe this school isn't the place for me after all.

My computer is still broken, and as you might've guessed, a new one isn't really at the top of the priority list right now. But I will try to keep you guys posted on my situation as often as possible. When I'm settled somewhere, I will get back to posting regularly. That's a promise. But let one thing be known: I'm not going anywhere. Bloggal is here to stay, and I still fully intend on debuting my new blog. That is, when I've got a place to stay, and what not lol.

Anyway, I hope you all are doing well. I miss you guys tremendously.



xo,

bloggal.