<p>Medwell, as many others have said, appreciate what you have. It’s great that you’ve reached adulthood and are now exercising your financial responsibility. However, as a person whose family is not American, you should accept that things are run a different way here. </p>
<p>The Pell Grant is a necessity, but I must agree that the application process within the FAFSA should be reformed. Fraud is everywhere. I, like many other Pell Grant recipients, are hardworking students, just as you are. Sure, I may benefit more in comparison to you because I am of a poorer family than are you. However, that does not mean I am not worthy of receiving it. Hard-working and high-performing students of meager or poor resources deserve the right to be able to obtain an education, too. My Pell Grant doesn’t cover a dent or any good fraction of my total COA, nearing the 60K mark. Although I received a very significant amount of aid to cover most of my expenses, the Pell Grant is a blessing for what my costs would have totaled had I not received it. And I am very appreciative of it, busting my arse at school to put that money to good use.</p>
<p>Yet no one is denying that you’re not working as hard either to make ends meet. We both have jobs, we both pay for our expenses. However, your parents’ choice to not provide for your education is a matter of personal or family politics. You seem to take that for granted, unknowing of the troubles of the true American underclass that struggles to make ends meet. The Pell Grant, and other federal aid in the form grants or scholarship money helps make higher education a possibility. And it’s not just low-income families benefiting; even middle, and -GASP- some high-income folk benefit from it. I work as a financial aid assistant at my school - and on work-study, too.</p>
<p>I’m quite aware that I’m one of the lucky few. However, I do not take any of that for granted and try my best in all things academic and not. I see the need for programs such as the Pell Grant and other federal aid funding. And I really do feel for my middle class peers. I wish our government wouldn’t rain down on the entire middle class. It’s unfair, especially when we’ve all had to move to lower rungs, yet the highly privileged stay privileged.</p>