So I haven’t had time to really pay attention to my life…I mean. I pay attention to my life, but I missed this letter sitting in my inbox from last week.
The part that is kind of fancy, and kind of horrifying is here:
“The Scholarship Committee of the School of General Studies is pleased to inform you that you have been awarded a scholarship in the amount of $7000 for the 2008 – 2009 academic year. In addition to the scholarship noted above, you will receive an additional $2200 as a part of the need enhancement that was announced in the spring of 2008. This makes your total award $9200 for the 2008 – 2009 academic year.
In considering an application for financial aid, the Scholarship Committee evaluates academic progress, financial need, and projected enrollment. Your award is based on your anticipated enrollment from your scholarship application of 9 credits in the fall and 9 credits in the spring.
If you enroll for fewer credits than stated above, your scholarship amount will be reevaluated and, in most cases, reduced. You must be enrolled for a minimum of six credits (half time) each semester to receive a scholarship. If you receive full tuition benefits from Columbia University or an outside employer, you will be eligible only for a nominal award from institutional funds (maximum $550) to help defray academic fees.”
Now…I did not get $9200 last year. I have no idea how they determined that $9,200 was sufficient for a woman making less than $30k combined for a school that costs close to $60k full time. But I really do not care. I did bust my ass as much as I was able to, and scored nothing lower than a B…so, this is what they decided to give me.
I sat here almost in tears thinking to myself…3 classes and two full time jobs. (Oh no.) Now if I went to NYU or some other more local douchey school, well, I could possibly justify the travel time. But when I am going to school on a weekday and working the same day (especially clear downtown on the same side), you are talking about a minimum of 4 hours travel time to and from school and work and home. Eeghads.
But I want it, and I would seriously throw a tantrum to get it, if that was all it took. Unfortunately for me, it involves none of that.
So I have to figure out if I should:
1) Try it out
2) Quit the spa and work the cafe hoping I can make rent.
3) Squish 30 hours into 3 days at the spa, take three classes and work at the cafe when I am not at work or school.
4) Cry
I mean, I know I am kind of a bitch to be sitting here complaining about having choices in a ridiculously scary economy (if you saw the resumes that cross my desk looking for phone work you would think twice about your impressions–these cats have masters degrees and some have PHD’s, and they want to book spa appointments!). But having too many choices sometimes proves to be too scary for me as well.
To top it all off, I have not really told anyone about the cafe. My parents don’t know. Then again they don’t know much about anything about me. Anyway, the point being, if I really fucked it all up and ruined all three prospects. Then what? E wouldn’t be happy since he is always on me to make more money anyways.
Basically yeah. I guess I would be in trouble. But that whole fly by the seat of your pants trust the world business doesn’t cut the mustard when you have health issues and rent to pay.
Oh Calgon…drop me 10k in an account and I could make it stretch just about a year with basic expenses.
too bad Calgon is soap for Massengil women. Otherwise it might be a “gawd” worth praying to.
July 17, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Francis,
You can do this. I have a 4-hour commute too, remember? So when you commute it’ll be like we’re commuting together, in a strange way.
I think you should take the 3 classes, work at Bliss, *and* work the cafe whenever you have time.
I believe in you; I love you; and I know you can do this.
Always,
Francis
July 17, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Thank you Francine. That makes me feel better.
To secure the investment in the cafe I will have to work all day on the weekends and two additional nights. And be available for dangling shifts as needed. Such is the life of a “manager”.
The big piggy will lose his mind, but such is life, I guess. I just remember what happened last semester when I wanted to keel over and lose my mind all in the same breath. I used to think it was the 5 drowsy dizzy do not drive medicines. Now I think I was just losing my mind. I wish I had some of your frisky youth and BAWLS chugging ability to rock it out. As it stands, graduation day at this rate is still another 4.5 years from today. And that’s just a flimsy BA.
Theoretically this is a work week involving 70 hours of raw in house work, potentially 16 commuting, 9 in school…(95 total hours occupied). Then homework…7 hours of sleep each night (I have a feeling I might need this). So 144 hours out of 168. That leaves me 24 hours to shower, eat, walk my dogs, hang out with piggy, and do my homework.
Obviously I know you can do it. I just wish I had as much faith that I can.
But hey, life is an experiment. Maybe it will be fun.
July 17, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Francis,
Maybe I will send you a case of BAWLS before school starts. Which flavor? (Cherry, regular, or root beer?)
The trick (I have learned after many, many years of this) is to budget and maximize your time. So the time you spend on the subway or bus, read. Don’t stop to eat—rather, eat at your desk as you continue to work on papers, projects, etc. Tell E. about your new schedule and take turns splitting doggie care, so that on some days you don’t have to take them out.
That leaves:
24 remaining hours per week =
Approximately 3 free hours per day.
Showering – 15 – 20 minutes per day
Homework – The remaining 2.5 hours per day
On some days, when you walk the dogs, you’ll have 2 hours of homework time. Other days, you may be able to cut back on sleep a bit (getting 5 or 6 hours, say), to buy yourself and extra 1-2 hours to do homework.
And E. will need to respect your space and be understanding of the fact that you guys probably won’t do too much actual hanging out during the semester.
It is not easy, and it is not fun most of the time, but it is do-able. You just have to make some sacrifices.
July 18, 2008 at 1:42 am
Uh…congratulations!…i-think?
hope-it-all-works-out.:)
July 19, 2008 at 12:45 am
thanks, Miss!
It’s all temporary stress anyways.
🙂
July 18, 2008 at 11:45 pm
I wish I had some words of wisdom to help, but good luck, that’s a hell of a load to try to balance. Some how though, I get the idea if anyone can do it, you can.
July 19, 2008 at 12:44 am
hahaha
thanks. it might only need to be a month or so into school since the business owner and I agreed we would know by October how things looked.
I might seem like superwoman…but I am kind of lazy.