Student & Graduate Success
By John Lee
Seattle Pacific University
This story has been edited for length and clarity.
Our financial situation has been the same my whole life.
We have always been blessed enough to have food and a roof over our heads, but special days to others were awkward and disappointing to me. At Christmas time, I remember it being hard to ask my friends what presents they got. When they inevitably asked me the same question, I would be embarrassed to follow up their grand present with mine, which usually consisted of essentials such as socks, just wrapped and finished with a bow.
Due to my family’s tight financial situation, I wondered if normal necessities such as attending college were even possible for me.
How could I selfishly dedicate to studying for my future when I knew that support from my immigrant parents, a pastor and caregiver, would be an impossible challenge for them?
I figured the only way to achieve a brighter future was by working during my time in school and facing the horror stories of student loan debt firsthand.
This was a very daunting feeling until I found out about the Loan Repayment Assistance Program (LRAP).
As I attend college, I do not have to worry and stress about financials because of LRAP. This has allowed me to dedicate all the time and energy I need into my classes. With peace of mind, I finished my first year in college with a stellar 3.96 GPA, well on my way to achieve my goals.
As John’s story demonstrates, cost and affordability are major barriers to enrollment, but LRAPs can help. Download these 2022 RNL survey results to learn more.
