Last academic year, nearly 8 million students – including 33 percent of all undergraduates – benefited from receiving a federal Pell Grant. Without this support from the federal government, many low-income students would not be able to pursue their post secondary educational dreams.
Here at Albertus we would like to highlight two students who are #thankful4pell and give you their stories.
Erin’s Story
My name is Erin Daly. I am from a small town, Seymour, CT. I wanted to take the time to say thank you for the financial aid I have received. Without financial aid it would have been impossible for me to attend college. If it wasn’t for the financial aid I received I would have not attended college at all due to the high cost. The aid I received was the biggest factor in my decision to attend college or not. I would have been in debt for years if I went to college and received no aid. I am pursuing a career in the law enforcement area. I would like to become an officer in the SWAT or K-9 unit. With the help of financial aid I am able to obtain a degree in Criminal Justice which in the long run will help me move up in rankings in the police department that I obtain a job in. Financial aid also allowed me to continue my favorite hobby. I got the opportunity to play soccer for Albertus Magnus College which is a sport I have played since I took my first steps. Financial aid gave me 4 more years to do what I have been doing my whole life. Due to receiving my financial aid I was also able to enroll in a class in my hometown and become an EMT. Now I am a volunteer for Seymour Emergency Medical Services while going to college in order to obtain my degree in Criminal Justice. Thank you for the opportunities I now have due to the aid.
Sheridan’s Story
As Thanksgiving draws near, I have been considering the things in my life that I am l
thankful for. The list changes every year, but one of the main constants has been my education. When I was younger I was grateful just for the opportunity to go to school each day, as I have always loved learning. Now that I am older, I am also grateful for all of the support that has allowed me to bring my love of learning to the college level; this support includes family, teachers, and, of course, financial support. Though most people recognize that college is an expensive investment, few people truly understand just how significant of an expense it can be until they and their three sibling are all preparing to go off to college at once, and the dollar signs are flashing in front of their eyes – at least, that was my experience. I have known since I was ten that I want to be a high school English teacher, a career which, understandably, requires a college degree, but three and a half years ago I was wondering if I would ever achieve that dream, if I would even be able to afford college. When financial aid packages started arriving in the mail, I was panicked instead of reassured. The numbers weren’t adding up in a way that made college seem possible, especially because most, if not all, of the packages were comprised solely of loans. At that point, my 17-year old self started to succumb to the fear that college might not be an option.
Now, less than four years later, I am finishing up my incredible student teaching experience, am looking towards my final semester of college, and am on track to obtain my teaching certification. Looking back, I wish I could say that the fears of my high school self were unfounded, but in reality, my ability to attend college was still somewhat tenuous, and truly depended on the grants I have received. Even though I received the maximum loan amount for each academic year, the balance left seemed astronomical. Thankfully, I qualified for other forms of aid as well; the most significant form of financial support that I received was the Pell grant. Receiving this grant reduced my out of pocket to a just-manageable amount and allowed me to pursue my dream of teaching without struggling under an impossible financial burden. People say that every penny matters, and for me, every penny of financial aid that I received, especially a free grant, truly made the difference. For that, I am thankful.
