Asked for tuition assistance today and ...wow.

Okay, this is actually kind of funny. Yes, yes, it is also sad but I'm going with funny. Long story short: I am fifty-two years old and became disabled about four and a half years ago when I came down with a rather nasty, rare, auto-immune disorder. I can no longer do the work for which I have training and/or experience and my doctor has flat out threatened to lock me up as a danger to myself if he catches me working. I have not been able to secure disability as of yet and after 3 years of not working, financial destitution sent me back to the work force about a year and a half ago. After two heart attacks in July and three in the last nine months, I had to give it up on Monday.

Retraining is, I believe, my best option. I asked a local priest who I'm acquainted with if he knew of any programs through the diocese that might help me return to school (long story short, I'm not eligible for grants or loans after falling into default when I became ill) to pick up a skill I can actually do relatively safely. He didn't but suggested I head to Catholic Charities and see what they had to offer. They were not able to help but I checked with the Union Gospel Mission and WorkSource as well determined to leave no stone unturned. Striking out at every turn, I then decided to go to a local Catholic University and throw myself at their feet and basically beg for mercy. Perhaps you've heard of it; the school is Gonzaga University.

I brought my transcripts with me. I was in the Honors program at the last college I attended as well as carrying a 4.0. Most of the credits are transferable as it was a solid, accredited state university. My SAT score was a perfect 1600 before the writing section was added, and being a published author, I'd probably do okay on that front as well. I brought these with me, not to brag, but to show potential and a good work and study ethic. I am aiming for a degree in social work. I went to the Mission Department after reading the University's mission statement that states:


The Mission Department has been merged recently with the Ministry Department which worked out well because I was torn over which departments might be my best shot. Here's what I was told by the priest who met with me after explaining my predicament:


Wow. Just wow. Anyway, no worries, I AM going back to school. I have another plan, but still....wow. Anyway, maybe he was just having a bad day - we're all entitled, but still - I'm torn between speechless and giggling at the absurdness of the whole exchange.

Yeah, ask for crutches cause of a broken leg and get told to run a marathon! Absurd!