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[Name redacted] gets to go to college!
Let me tell you about this beautiful, smart, brave young woman. She arrived here when she was three. Her parents have been staying here by shenanigans with tourist visas. She graduated from high school on time -- and could have done it early -- with decent grades, while at the same time she has been raising her daughter impeccably. She had a good solid career all planned out: she'd go to the community college, study to be a registered nurse, and since that involves a significant waiting list to get into the program, she would pick up some lower-level medical technician/ assistant qualification along the way.
Then a couple things happened.
The budget happened: public college fees have risen at a tremendous rate at the same time that funding has been cut, meaning fewer classes and all the rest. So working her way through school, while supporting herself and her child, is no longer as feasible as it was.
And also the federal financial aid system began requiring proof of legal residency in order to qualify for financial aid. Which meant that [Name redacted], who cannot prove legal residency because she doesn't have legal residency, could not get financial aid, and therefore, could not go to college, though the state policies are that legal status does not matter for admission into the public colleges.
However, Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Dream Act Saturday, and that means that [Name redacted] can go to college and become a registered nurse!
She will be a very good one.
Let me tell you about this beautiful, smart, brave young woman. She arrived here when she was three. Her parents have been staying here by shenanigans with tourist visas. She graduated from high school on time -- and could have done it early -- with decent grades, while at the same time she has been raising her daughter impeccably. She had a good solid career all planned out: she'd go to the community college, study to be a registered nurse, and since that involves a significant waiting list to get into the program, she would pick up some lower-level medical technician/ assistant qualification along the way.
Then a couple things happened.
The budget happened: public college fees have risen at a tremendous rate at the same time that funding has been cut, meaning fewer classes and all the rest. So working her way through school, while supporting herself and her child, is no longer as feasible as it was.
And also the federal financial aid system began requiring proof of legal residency in order to qualify for financial aid. Which meant that [Name redacted], who cannot prove legal residency because she doesn't have legal residency, could not get financial aid, and therefore, could not go to college, though the state policies are that legal status does not matter for admission into the public colleges.
However, Governor Jerry Brown signed the California Dream Act Saturday, and that means that [Name redacted] can go to college and become a registered nurse!
She will be a very good one.
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