*SIGH*

Well, it has been a week and a half already, but it is only Thursday. Ever feel like that? It has been the longest 3 days. Everyone at the office is having a hard time getting motivated, I think. There is so much crap to wade through besides doing our regular, everyday jobs. I am having a hard time getting up and coming in every morning. Part of me does wish that one of the jobs that I sent my resume to would have panned out and I could have just exited with apologies. But so far, I have received a couple of "due to the economic climate, we are no longer hiring for this position..." letters and an interview for something, that after talking with the person about the position, I do not even want to do.

I had been planning to start back to school at University of Oklahoma this January, but I am starting to feel so overwhelmed with everything else, I am thinking of post-poning that until the summer or fall. Jenn doesn't want me to, but I just don't see how I can have the energy to do it right now. I am just so down. Plus, she is trying to get into Oklahoma City University for January, and I want to make sure that we can afford for her to go there and I don't know if we can if I am also going to OU.

Blech. I cannot believe I am voluntarily going to attend OU. LOL

Go Pokes!

Scholarships

Jennifer has been VERY fortunate to have received multiple scholarships and grants to help her go back to school. I have been really proud of her. She is getting a scholarship this coming semester from Phi Theta Kappa for being an officer (she is the Vice President of Service). It will pay for 6 credit hours this fall and 6 credit hours next Spring! I am really proud of her.

I would encourage ANYONE to go back to school, if it is a dream of yours to go. It has been a bit of a financial struggle in the beginning, but she recieved FAFSA at the very start and as she took classes and made good grades, she began applying for more financial assistance and began receiving it. Her grants and scholarships have gone above and beyond paying for her classes and go to help with books, tutors and luckily, she has been able to have some money left over for living expenses.

Check out your local community colleges and jr. colleges. Find out what kind of assistance they offer and what kind of training programs, certifications and associates degrees they offer. After I finished my Associates degree, I was able to go back to my old job and make more money than I had been previously. I hope to go back in the Fall of 2009 and finsh my Bachelors.

Earn Free College Tuition!

I don't know if anyone will read this, but it is such a great program, I wanted to mention it here. It is called OHLAP (Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program). Eighth, Ninth and Tenth grade students (in Oklahoma), whose annual family income is $50,000 or less can earn free college tuition!

To enroll in the program, kids must:

• Be an Oklahoma resident,


• Apply during 8th-, 9th- or 10th-grade year, and


• Be the child of parents who earn $50,000 or less per year at the time of application.

Requirements:

• Graduate from an Oklahoma High School,


• Take 17 units of high school courses and acheive at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in those courses,


• Achieve a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.5 for all courses in grades 9-12,


• Attend school regularly,


• Do your homework,


• Stay away from drugs and alcohol,


• Don't commit criminal or delinquent acts,


• Provide information when requested,


• Meet with a school official to go over your school work and records on a regular basis,


• Apply for other financial aid during your senior year of high school, and


• Take part in Oklahoma's Promise - OHLAP activities that will prepare you for college.

After you've completed the program's requirements, Oklahoma's Promise - OHLAP will help pay your tuition at an Oklahoma public two-year college or four-year university. It will also cover a portion of tuition at an accredited private college or university or for courses offered at a public technology center that qualify for credit from a public tw0-year college.

Parents must supply prove of income, sign the agreement and promise to help you successfully reach the goals of the program.

If you don't qualify for this program, see your counselor for information on additional scholarships, grants and student loans, or visit Oklahoma higher education's website.