I Love/Hate My Job

New student orientation today. One of my girls went through fire and brimstone to get enrolled in college. According to the U.S. gov’t, for purposes of financial aid she is “dependent” on her parents. (Even though she has little contact with her parents. They believe she is a complete loser. So, she lives with her boyfriend’s family, helping out with the family business of making uniforms. And no, they don’t make much of a profit.)

During her financial aid consultation, we told her she qualified for a $4,000 Pell Grant and a subsidized loan. Woohoo! Alas, said financial aid was contingent upon getting her parents’ cooperation to verify income and sign for a credit check and loan docs. Whatevah. Mom and Dad jerked her chain a bit though…yes, we’ll help you; no, we won’t; yes, we will; Just kidding! We won’t…

So, two days ago, my student ran to Reno to marry her boyfriend. She is now officially independent from her parents, qualifies for financial aid on her own, and she started school today.

I can’t decide how I feel about this.