Getting into college seems easy and many aspiring students think that the four or five years it takes to finish college will also be easy, but it is not. There are many factors that make this experience a little more complicated than you might imagine. These can be working and studying at the same time, not having sufficient economic resources, having children, not having the support of one’s parents, or, in my case, that I had to leave my parents’ house in San Antonio Tlayacapan and move to Guadalajara.
To be part of any of these categories does not make us less worthy. In my opinion, financial need is something that must be recognized because, despite the circumstances in which we find ourselves, we treasure a way to finish what we started and what we have dreamed of for years and what, over the years, we have imagined finishing.
Fortunately, my college experience was not as difficult as I imagined. I had the support of my parents during these four years, and even though I changed careers, they continued to be by my side. I also had the help of the Lake Chapala Society Student Aid Program, which financially supported me for three years. Thanks to this program, I had one less issue to worry about, since, being in a different city, I had to pay rent, utilities, books, supplies and transportation. This financial aid helped me not to worry about some of these expenses.
The program is a great help to many people and I am glad to have been part of it. I thank the Lake Chapala Society for helping me - and many others in the community - in this stage of my life, and allowing me to fulfill one more dream.
I hope in the future I can be a good example, proving that the Student Aid Program bears fruit.
As I say goodbye to my university years, I am proud to have been part of this noble program.