My education

I will start from the top. I am a 32-year-old male who has decided to take Automotive Tech. classes at my local community college because I would like to make something out of myself. About 4 years ago, I moved to Alabama with my parents because I could not afford to live on my own at the time. Upon moving here, I immediately began looking for work, and this entire time I have had many job interviews, but never seem to get the actual job. I keep hearing that if you are not local or you do not know someone who works there personally, you will not be getting a job. That is fine; I understand that many employers in small towns only want to hire people they know so they do not have to take a risk on a stranger.

Here is where my problem begins. My grant was approved for me to start college on 8/18/2014 and I'm very proud I took the initiative to go back to school because I'm sure as many of you know, the older you get, the harder it is to go back to school. Anyway, my grant was approved and it covers all the costs of tuition and fees, but NOT my books. I was not even given an option to take a student loan to get books and a cheap used car to get back and forth from school. Before accepting the grant, I spoke to the Automotive teacher about how I felt about the grant and that it may not cover my books, so I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to start school. He told me to not worry about the books right now and that something could be worked out, but I would need them eventually. His reasoning for telling me this was he did not want to see my walk away from school over something that I could get help with.

I do not like asking for help, it took all I had to accept the grant knowing I could not afford my books. I have been feeling for down on myself for a long time. I have never had trouble finding a job before. However, I knew the older I got, the worse it would get. I do not want to work dead end jobs my entire life and never be able to retire. There just is no work in this area, and I cannot move without money. Therefore, I had to make the choice to either go back to school, or continue trying for something that just is not going to happen. So here I am, creating a fundraiser to fund my education and possibly a cheap used car to get back and forth from school. The car isn't as big of a deal as the books are. The books there is no real leeway on. If I have to borrow a car or get a ride to my classes, I can, it just may have some issues at times. I will not sit here and give a minimum amount that I want, or anything of that nature. Any help will be appreciated and if you cannot afford to help then I understand fully and will not be upset. I’ve gone my entire life putting others in front of myself and doing whatever I could to help others be happy, so it is a little difficult for me to be on the other end. To everyone who has read my story or decided to help a stranger out. I thank you very much and there will always be a special place in my heart for you.