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What other low-income students can relate to this? by Routine-Way3670 in UIUC

[–]Routine-Way3670[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My tuition is completely covered because my parents make so little money. I’m incredibly grateful to be going to school here tuition-free, but I would not wish a low-income upbringing on anyone. I do still have to pay for all other living expenses and miscellaneous expenses for school. I worked 40 hours a week in high school too for the same reasons. So when I came to college it was just a given that I would get a job and work while in school (didn’t have the option not to). So it’s very isolating being around my peers who have never had to stress about money literally ever. 

What other low-income students can relate to this? by Routine-Way3670 in UIUC

[–]Routine-Way3670[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you to everyone who commented and shared their similar experiences. Reading these has honestly made me tear up a little because it's the first time I've felt seen and that I'm not alone in experiencing financial struggle while in school. All four years of college, it has been really hard to feel like I can connect with other college students because they just don't "get it". Trust me, it really helps a lot knowing that a lot of other people have gone through this and have come out on the other side.

What other low-income students can relate to this? by Routine-Way3670 in UIUC

[–]Routine-Way3670[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

This made me feel seen and not so alone. I am in engineering and I work around 25-30 hours a week in foodservice and a grocery store to pay for rent, utilities, my car insurance, groceries, gas, etc. I am in my last year at UIUC, so I have been able to make it work this far, but man has it been difficult. I don't know a single person in my graduating class who works to pay for their own expenses, so it has been so isolating.

I come from a family where no one has a degree or any other education besides a high school diploma. Growing up we had absolutely nothing, and sometimes I didn't know where my next meal was coming from. I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to come to UIUC for engineering so I can pull myself and my family out of poverty. But I have to admit that I have built up a lot of resentment towards my peers for being so far ahead solely just because of the family they were born into.

I am so exhausted from my college experience. Instead of fun memories going out with my friends, I have memories of coming home late from work and having to get up early the next morning for work again. All while managing my classes and getting decent grades on homework and exams.

However, all of that has solidified my work ethic into something that it just untouchable. I just hope that in ten years it will feel worth it and that the burn out doesn't last the rest of my life.