I been thinking about this for a long time now.
Do you all know how I could get a grant to be able to go.
Or at least some form of help to pay for some of it?

Any help would be great!

Thank You

First fill out the FAFSA. www.fafsa.ed.gov. Then contact financial aid depts after your fafsa comes back.

Do you want to go to HCC, HBC, Univ System of MD, or online courses? I would suggest talking to a counselor somewhere first... I'm sure they'll have lots of information as to which grants you could apply for.

Thanks for the information Coma, matter of fact I did call HCC today and have a appointment in mid August. I'm sure I'll figure it all out, can't be that hard. I just thought it's time for me to do something else with my life.

Like the old saying goes, Your never to old to learn new things.

You are really something, Sweets! I admire you. Best wishes in your new journey! You can do it for sure!!!

HCC is a smart move financially. Get some credits rolling for a third of the price per credit hour of going to Frostburg or one of the other in-state schools.

HCC sounds like a great idea. I have several friends who had great experiences there... good luck!

what are you planning to go to school for?

HCC is about the cheapest route liberty. You will end up having to fill the FAFSA out anyway, so I usually send that in first to get it out of the way because it takes awhile. Now only if most of the professors would actually teach, lol. One good professor I had was the one for Geology, he really made you interested

GO SWEET! I think it's great that you're going back to school.

Good luck finding help with the financial part. I don't qualify for anything and have to pay full tuition, (which apparently doesn't include printing in the computer lab Can I borrow five cents to print my paper? It doesn't take credit cards and I don't carry cash and I guess THE $545 DOLLARS I PAID FOR THIS CLASS DIDN'T COVER IT! )

I went through all of the fafsa crap just to be told that I didn't qualify for any assistance because I wasn't carrying a full course load.

I'm telling you, I need to squirt out some babies.

No, Heather, squirting out babies will definitely not help. My fafsa was a joke. It told me my expected contribution was $2k more that my yearly out of state tuition! As if! Stupid thing doesn't take into account that I have a mortgage, previous student loans, or much of anything else. Which sticks me footing the $12,000 bill for this year (actually taken out in a loan). I'm so glad I will be done in May, and I can start repaying all of it back. I hate being in debt, but I gotta get the paper so I can get the job which actually pays enough to live on.

As for you, sweets, I didn't find the counselors at HCC especially helpful, but make sure to hit up financial aid. They have a decent number of local scholarships that depend on your income and grade point average. Keep those grades up, and you may be rewarded. Also, write to (Munson?) as some of the senators have scholarships available to their constituents. Financial aid can probably give you more info on that, too! Good luck, I'm proud of you for jumping in!!!

Volunteers? Anyone?

Just to echo what momsapilot said, you should absolutely apply for any scholarships you are eligible for, sweetliberty. They will have this info at the financial aid office. I think it's awesome that you want to continue your education, and I wish you best of luck and success!

Sorry I didn't reply sooner, I been a little busy.

Just wanted to say, thank you for all the support. You all know I paint residental houses for a living. That part is okay, I do meet a lot of nice people. I do get paid veryly good at times. But sitting home all winter get's of kind of boring. Yea, I know I should get a part time job, I am this year. And since I'm getting older, that's not what I want to be doing for the rest of my life. I'll soon be 45 years old, in Dec. oh my.

You darn right I'm going to give it my all. It's never to late to learn new things. I have already been in contact with HCC, have a appointment later in the month. So where see how it goes. I'm a bit nerous though, but I'll be okay. I might have to get my GED first though, since I didn't finish high school. But that shouldn't be a huge problem, I'm not that dumb. Just forget for because of a accident I had awhile back, but anyhow.

If I can get a grant, financial aid or what ever it may be. I'm going to take it. I was always a firm believer, you must support yourself and not rely on the government or (DSS) for anything. But in this case I will, if I quatify for such grants and financial aid. A lot of people do, so I shall have no shame in doing so myself.

Nothing ever got done, by sitting here talking about it. It takes action to change you life for the better. I will and want to change my life, since my children are getting older. Sooner or later they will move out. If I don't take steps to change my life now, nobody else will. Darn right I'm on a mission. I been thinking about this for to long now. It's time to take action.

Getting your GED is the exact same equalness as a school diploma technically so cool liberty I hope you do it. Honestly I got a GED instead of a diploma also. the funny thing is- I had a diploma 6 months before my class ever graduated. I think the rules have changed now but you used to could take the GED 6 months after you quit so thats sort of what I did. Most of my learning I did on my own in my room anyway as far as book knowledge.

I took GED classes before many many years ago. Until certain things happen in my life, and I had to quit. Sometimes life has a way of throwing you a curve ball. And your life goes in another direction. I was only a few points aways after taking the Pre-Test to see where I was. So I'm 100% sure, there's not going to be a problem in passing a GED test.

So many times, I have always listen to negative people. You can't do this and you can't do that. Or you shouldn't do this or that, for what ever reason. Well guess what, not anymore. Negative people make me sick. I figure them kinds of people always want to bring you down to their level. It's a shame, how young and stupid I was in my younger days. I was always aiming to please everyone, expect for myself. Well guess what, never again.

From my life experiences, have made me into a stronger person and maybe even cold hearted at times. I can tell you this much. There's no such word as I can't in my book. I could careless whether people think I can or can't. Because I'm going for my long ago dream that never died. And no one will stand in my way to succeed, no one.

Same here liberty they always tell me Im lying or I never did this or that. Well I end up liking it in the end when they find out that yes, I truly did. The big deal with me being so negative now is that things and people have become so predictable and Im not gonna lie and say I know about something when I dont(like the majority of men), or that Im so great at something when Im not. Also Im not gonna say or think the future is gonna be good, unless I truly have some sort of reason to. Too many people attempt too many things that are way out of their league. I will only attempt things that I feel I was put here for. Like if someone was truly not very bright, then I would hope that they wouldnt even think of trying to go to college, but since you seem like you are extremely full of knowledge then it would be great for you to do anything that wouldnt make you look like such a fool, and college is definitely not out of your league sweetheart. You seem to be very intelligent.

Also I dont care how negative or even positive someone is as long they are being real. I never want anyone to sugar coat things or kiss up to me unless It's warranted. Theres some things that Im not so negative about but not alot and its a shame all due to the ways of the society. Ill be damned if I act fake and pretend something or someone isnt bad if they arent and I only will accept the same in return no matter how bleak they are.

Liberty I really would like to respond to all of this but sugar, I just woke up after a bad scary dream and Im too tired to go in depth on these things at this time. I will say though they you have a good way of wording things and some of what you say is believable, some of what alot people say is believable. Just remember whenever I generalize about who people are and what they do I never mean 'all' of them, nothing is ever 'all'. ill get back to you soon, thanks- Im too tired its 5 in the morn on a sunday.

SweetLiberty2U saids,"Your experiences and mine are a bit different. I use the words Can't Do This or That. You said, "I never did this or that." Which is totally two different meanings. The words Can't and Never have two different meanings. As if your mother would say, You can't do this because, but yet you did it anyhow. That's the drive, to let nothing stand in your way. My mother use to tell me many many times. There's no such word as Can't, she sure didn't want us saying that word either. Saying, I can't would mean you fail before even trying. ----------------Liberty you misinterpreted what I said, I meant that people dont believe me when I tell them about things Ive done.

SweetLiberty2u said's, "In all my life, I never meant a man that said he could do everything. How do you truely know, what these men can or can not do? Are you judging all men a like, if so why? All men are not created equal. Everyone is different, everyone is a individual in his own right."
Flipper- I didnt say men think they can do eveything I said men lie too much about what they actually know or can do alot of times.


SweetLiberty2U said's. " Well news flash, No one can say what the future holds for them. People can only dream of what the future may hold but that's about all. Because the future is yet to come for us all.
Flipper- Of course thats common sense liberty but Im not gonna say Im gonna go out and buy a Potomac mansion if I only have 5 bucks to my name. I hope for a good future as all do but Im realistic about it.

SweetLiberty2U said's, "So what people attempt things out of there league as you say. To me, that's ambition. Meaning a strong desire to achieve. What's wrong with that? There's nothing wrong with a person trying to improve their self. Who are you to say, who's bright enough and who isn't. When did God say, Flipper you shall be the judge of all people around you? You said, you only attemp things that you feel, you was put on earth for. I don't understand that conspect at all. How you know what the reason you was put on earth for?
Flipper- Im saying that in a sense like if Im a 600 pound guy Im not gonna attempt to go and get with some lil skinny spoiled girl thats a model or something. Nothing wrong with ambition but it has to be realistic to what your current status is. Are you trying to say that someone who cant even write their own name is very bright? i know many who are dumb as a doorknob but because of looks or what others give to them or how they sell themselves they get what they want. God never said that but Im not gonna allow others to continuously judge me for the wrong reasons, if they can do it then why cant I? I will attempt what I know or have faith in my ability to do liberty as far as what Im here for, Im not gonna go out and construct a vehicle from scratch if I only have talent, tools, time, physical ability to do minimal repairs. also I have certain areas of talent and interest and Im not gonna be great at something that I dont have the ability or interest in.


SweetLiberty2u said's. "I'm by far not the smartest person in the world. I know, I'm no better then anyone else. But what I know is, in order to change your life. You can not allow negative people to get in your way. Negative people will bring you down, they will hold you back. I don't have the time to worry about, what other people may think. A person must have the drive to succeed. I for one could careless whether it makes me look like a foul or not. I'm not living my life for everyone, I'm living my life for me. What people have or don't have makes no difference to me. What they spend their money on makes no difference to me. How someone's living their lives makes no difference to me either.
Flipper- What you and I view as being negative might be different and most of the negative people in my book are the ones who hold the keys to my success- the rich, materialistic ones. I dont hang around with drug addicts, ho's or anything like that but I guarantee you one thing more of them were better people at their roots inside than the rich ones. Im not living my life for everyone either and thats why I dont get anywhere because Im not gonna join the group, Im not at a place of employment to marry anyone nor kill anyone, Im there to do what is in the job description if Im able- thats been a big reason why I havent advanced, all of my former employers could never say anything bad about my work performance Ill tell you that but as Ive said before thats not what counts the most these days, I wish it did.

SweetLiberty2u said's, I believe your at least 90% negative, to tell you the truth. Most of the time you have this poor me attitude. Not sure what society has to do with it. It's your life live it to it's fullest.

Flipper- Ok then Im just gonna ignore my physical restrictions as well as financial restrictions and just do whatever. I have to think poor me, no one else surely is, some care has got to come from someone. If you were half dead how would you like if your family ignored you or made fun of you? If you could barely walk how would you like it if others expected you to get up and run a marathon? Ive long realized that no one wants me to have feelings or care about myself. No matter whats going on ignore how I feel inside and just do whatever others want me to do liberty? also as far as the negative part, when Im positive and ambitious people want to put up obstacles in my way or give me a hard time also because they are jealous. I am living life within its boundaries and limitations, liberty



I am by no means finished liberty but Im about falling asleep now and youll have to wait for more.

I'm going to have to cut my reply's down a bit.,I have gotten carry away.

Im not drowning myself in self pity liberty. I am fine with who I am-really, lol. Just not in relation to others and I dont really wanna be.

Yes liberty we need to cut it out for awhile as far as the replies. Im the one who will get the raw deal out of it by replying to you so much. I will be thrown out and you will be fine as always no matter if youre just as guilty because you have said the things that others have wanted to hear and if you dont say it initially, you always find a way to include it, apologize, or make up for it in some fashion. Thats one thing I dont get, I see you apologizing an awful lot in here, what does anyone 'owe' you in here? Hmmm, seems like a hint of hypocrisy there- (Ouch) Im pretty sure Ill be getting a good reply from you to try and justify yourself, probably get some from others too-oh well to my response I only wish I could post a smiley icon that signified to kiss my __. I doubt I will be on too much in the next few days so you will have to wait for an encore

I don't have a problem here presay, it's just a matter of opinons and different view points. No big deal. Like to old saying goes about opinon, everybody has one. Your be waiting a long long time, for a reply on justifying myself because I don't have too. I say what I feel deep down, and not what people want to hear. After all I do have a brain, I can think for myself. Like you said yourself, you don't sugarcoat. Well I don't either.

All I know for sure is, I want to go to college. Make my life better not just for myself, but for my children as well. I want to fulfill my high school dream. I do not want to be painting people houses, when I'm in my 50's. So I'm planning and taking action now. That's pretty much what I'm focusing on now. Everything I said here in this topic are my belief's. What can I say, it's the way I was raise. Despite what you may think, as well as others.

As a child, my mother always encourage me to try new things. Even as a adult she would give me encouragement. That's why she would say, there's no such word as can't do. She use to tell me, at least try. If you give it your all, you may succeed. And if you fail at least you gave it your all. If you never try, then you will never know if you would have succeed or fail. Then one would wonder, the what if's. So that's were I get my outlook on life. That's why I'm more of a postive person. Thanks to Dad and Mom, God rest their souls.

I focus myself more on, what I want out of life for children and myself. And not on what everyone else is a doing. Because what everyone else is doing has no reflextion on me. So worrying about what others are doing, isn't going to change the world.

I doubt if your get the raw deal under this topic. Why should you,? I don't see a reason too. I doubt if your be thrown out for that little bit. It's really no big deal. It's just your veiw point about your life and the world around you. Which is fine, since it works for you. I can agree to disagree. Life is full of bumps and curves, you never know what's going to happen.

I just wanted to cut my reply's short. After all, I do get carry away sometimes. That statement wasn't directed to you.

Nice turn around liberty, lets just keep it back on track and move on. I really do honestly like some of what you are about.

Where we at girlfriend? I'm going to be picking classes in a month. I want to get with you if I can.

I'm only nights though.

I want to go back and retool my skills, find a new vocation. Some day I'll take a course. Right now, I have 2 in college so its time to work, work, work. ....Good luck to all pursuing your degree or new certifications, it is worth it. Best wishes to all, hang in there. .....Remember, if you are feeling overwhelmed, you can do some of it online. There are sometimes options for balancing work and school. The Maryland and WVA systems have some classes online. Some majors are more flexible.