Claudine Nicolette Zafra

FINALLY got my GRANTS and LOAN this morning!!! Now I can buy all my materials without feeling so bad =)

Last Wednesday and Thursday were my first days for all my classes. After each day, Lodelle accompanied me to all kinds of stores for all the drafting supplies I still needed. It was just all too much for me because I only had 2 days to get everything since I left for Vegas on Friday morning and come back Sunday night; I needed 90% of the drafting materials by Monday… Anyway, my point is, on Wednesday, I was so frustrated which made me angry. We went to Walmart as our second to last stop for the night, hoping to find a ream of 11x17 bond paper. I could not find anything. I remember I was about to cry right then and there because I was so angry that the places we went to didn’t have what I was looking for. I didn’t care that there were all those back to school crazy shoppers, I got so teary eyed. Who cries while material shopping?? =/ After Walmart we went to Michael’s with a couple 40%off coupons and that’s when Lodelle really stepped up, despite my sour attitude towards him and everything else. He started looking for my portfolio, marker pads, trace paper, colored pencils, etc! Times like those, I subconsciously need him to step up and just lead the way for me until I calm down and am able to think clearly again. Just reflecting on that experience because that was one hell of a stressful experience for me. Truly appreciate you and Thanks honey =)

first day @SJSU in 9 days and Vegas in 11 with some down a*s girls!! so freaking stoked =)

I thought living off of loans would be enough for me to just be a full time student and just enjoy my first semester at sjsu… but I was too scared to borrow too much money, which means less for me per semester… I divided the money I’d receive per semester into 5 months, give or take, already put into account my bills and helping my parents… More than half of my loan money is for helping my parents. That’s just how hard our life is right now. I can’t just let my parents be when clearly I can help them out, even if it’s just a little bit… They’ve told me to just focus on school, hence accepting a loan, but obviously I can’t just not worry about our financial stability. It is so hard to be a grown-up while still trying to make my dreams come true.

I really wanted to graduate by spring 2014… But that just seems more and more far-fetched not only because of my financial problems, but also because of the amount of classes my major requires; it is extremely daunting. The reality of it is, I probably won’t finish everything until Fall 2014, and won’t be able to walk the stage till spring ‘15… Hopefully if I give into this plan, I’ll at least have my summers off so I could work and save for the upcoming school year again.

ps: I do want to note how truly thankful I am that my tuition is at least taken care of via the grants I was awarded. Without those, I truly would be in a much greater turmoil.

Whether in a community college or a university, I seriously find the best deals for my textbooks! 5 books for a total of $94! =)

Now I just have to find my professors’ email addresses and email them to double check if the books listed in the Spartan Bookstore are correct and really required. Yay me!

mannnn…

12% fee increase for Fall 2011?!

there goes all my grant money… =/