<p>You won't hear <em>me</em> bashing him; I'm impressed by the strong support and admiration for him in his home community.</p>
<p>I would like to start by introducing myself...I am the 18 year old student from El Paso, Texas. I would like to take this opportunity to clarify to all of you what has been going on, not so that you may stop bashing me for what has happened to me (I understand that for some it might be second nature and highly improbable to stop once they have made up their opinion), but to preserve the integrity and good will of those in my community who have volunteered to help me out, and maybe, just maybe, implant the notion that "rational bashing" to an unknown John Doe whom you do not know of, is ultimately wrong.</p>
<p>As all of you already know, I come from a low income family. Our family of five earns less than $11,000 a year, mainly due to the fact that only my dad works (he is self employed), my mom is a stay home mom. None have a college education, English is their second language, and both are from other countries. I will not go into detail about our trials and tribulations to compete with your story Kamikazewave, I simply ask that you (and by you i mean the reader) simply take some time to understand my situation, as I would do for you. </p>
<p>As for my financial aid packet, xjayz is right, Harvard waives the "family contribution" for those families whose annual income is less than $60,000. However, a common misunderstanding is equating this waiver as a "free ride, all expenses paid to Harvard", let me assure you that the cost of attendance is not free. So that we're on the same page, the total cost of Harvard (for this year atleast) is $48,550.00. Within my financial aid packet lies what Harvard calls a "student contribution" ($1300.00) , indicating that students must have this amount when entering college. Furthermore, there is the "Travel Allowance" (About $900.00) that Harvard "suggests as an estimate" to keep in mind when making financial plans on getting there. And finally there is the "Self Help Offer" ($3,750.00). This is about $6,000.00 that I will have to come up with. Not to mention the fact that I have to prepare for costs of other miscellaneous items necessary for college: Winter clothes (i'm from Texas, i have no Boston clothes), computer, printer, food etc. (please keep in mind that this is more than half of what family makes in a year) And yes I understand Byerly, that there are multiple venues Harvard provides for it's students (loans for computers, winter clothes money etc.) and i can assure you that I have worked tirelessly to access these helpful venues.</p>
<p>Now, to explain my efforts in trying to come up with the money. First and foremost, I was interviewed by the local newspaper to explain a little bit about "the hidden expenses of college". I was a Go Center mentor at my high school with the responsibility of making sure everyone applied to a college, and to scholarships that they qualified for. At the time, and still today, I didn't understand why they interviewed me (someone who has yet to step foot at a college) but I guessed it was because of my recent acceptance to Harvard. I then explained my situation to them and clarified that I was getting generous financial aid help (Not a Merit Scholarship as they stated), that I was planning to work my way through college and that my sole priority as of now was putting no financial weight on my parents shoulders whatsoever, only to find my story mangled and transformed on the paper that weekend. After reading this article, a lady contacted her bank, talked to the manager and asked if she could create a "college fund" for me where people could make donations if they wanted to help. When this happened, the local news got a hold of it, and interviewed me, making it seem like my only desire was to "garner funds". Once again, the news got a hold of my story through the lady who created the account (i didn't know about it). By this time I had accepted the fact that I could not refuse the well intentioned deeds of people I had never met and so decided to let the news station know that if anybody wanted to help me out financially, that I would really appreciate it. Then others asked me to write an "official letter" that could tell people a little bit about my situation. Please understand that I did not organize this, I ultimately did contribute to the fundraising that others had started through writing a letter, but what is more important is the fact that I feel guilty for the attention I have recieved especially becuase many of the people I grew up with have not had the help they deserve. I even told my parents that such attention could be misinterpreted as a "self motivated fundraiser" and thus did not want to continue with "plans" everyone was having and brainstorming.</p>
<p>But to clarify, I have worked, and will continue to work to pay for my education. Also, I find it necessary to clarify that I WILL get a part time job at Harvard, and have already signed up for Dorm Crew before Freshman Orientation even starts, as a part of their Pre-Orientation programs...As for previous employment, because of our financial situation I have had to work, not for the sake of myself, but for my family. Every year since I was 12 on Valentine's Day and Mother's Day I have sold roses on the streets to help make ends meet. I also helped sell roses at High School graduations to help out my parents. Throughout my high school years, I traveled to Albuquerque on the weekends, sleeping in a resting area right before Albuquerque (because we didn't have money for a hotel), waking up at 5 in the morning to go to the city's flea markets and drive around for garage sales that afternoon (he buys second hand tools at flea markets and takes them to Mexico). Often, I would leave school at 4:00 pm to Albuquerque (a 5 hour drive) and come back at 4 or 5 in the morning on Monday only to leave to Mexico the next week, while balancing my participation in more than 10 extra curricular activities and of course, school work. I have not had an easy life, but like I said will not compete with Kamikazewave in a sappy story contest.</p>
<p>Now to the enchilada dinner...</p>
<p>First and foremost, I did not organize this enchilada dinner. The enchilada dinner was organized by another person and his family, a Junior at Texas Tech, whom I had never met. Secondly I have no family in El Paso (my dad is from Mexico and my mom is from Japan), in fact I have recieved zero dollars, pesos or yens from my famliy (which for many is crucial towards gathering some funding for college). The student orgnanized everything, and I didn't even know about it until four days before the dinner. It was only then that I helped, because after all it was a fundraiser to help me out. So I helped sell tickets, helped with the food preparation, and instead of mingling during the dinner, i was the one serving the plates.</p>
<p>I feel guilty for the help that people have offered me, even when they donated willingly and voluntarily...For this reason I have talked to counsellors of my high school to try and see if we can change this "kybnr Harvard Scholarship Fund" into something more general and inclusive. I want to use this foundation to help out students who will graduate next year and the years to come. Hopefully by then, I can establish a kind of scholarship that can help those students who come from hard upbringings...Ultimately I will strive to establish multiple scholarships that will aid students from all across the country, and hopefully with enough time, around the world.</p>
<p>Once again, I am sorry for any anger I may have caused to each and everyone of you. Please know that it was never my intention to "take advantage" of those who have helped me, or anybody for that matter. For this reason, I pledge, even if it is online, that I will do my best efforts to establish multiple scholarship foundations, so that people will not have to resort to organizing enchilada dinners for students who need help.</p>
<p>If you would like to help me establish this scholarship fund, or if you have any ideas as to what to do in this situation (with regards to the fundraiser) please let me know. I will accept any faults on my part for the things you all may deem as wrong, but please, do not stain the good natured intentions of people that have helped me out, please do not poison the admirable character of those in my community. I will accept the blame for any errors they may have done.</p>
<p>I definitely understand the 'hidden' expenses that you are talking about. But with careful planning, you can definitely save enough. Also, not all of your self-help offer (which is lower than most other colleges, by the way) will go toward your tuition. </p>
<p>Have you talked to your financial aid officer yet? She can help you sort out your financial aid package and see how much you are really paying Harvard out of your self-help and how much you get to keep for yourself.</p>
<p>I want you to know that Harvard has undergrads that work for HFAI (Harvard Financial Aid Initiative), part of the Harvard Recruitment Program. Most come from similar backgrounds as you do, and I can provide you the names of the students who work there and they'll be able to help you out with some tips!</p>
<p>A much appreciated and excellent response. </p>
<p>Hopefully it will prove to be of value to, and an inspiraton for, others similarly situated.</p>
<p>I wish you the best of luck this year.</p>
<p>Hey look man, I don't hate you. Actually my words were harsh man, and I apologize for that.</p>
<p>First, I just wanna say, congrats on getting accepted. I know how hard it must have been, and that it was 90% hard work, and only 10% talent. Once again, congrats.</p>
<p>I come from a low income family, and I would never insult anyone for doing what he to do. I fully understand your need for the fundraiser. I was ignorant of how the process worked in the beginning, but after educating myself I realized I was wrong. Sorry for that.</p>
<p>However, I was ****ed off because of one thing, that your story was mentioned in the online newspaper to fundraise for you specifically, because somehow you deserved it more because you got into Harvard. There's thousands of kids all over who have as bad or even worse circumstances as you, and have to go through the daily grind to pay for college. What I hated was the article acting as if a Harvard acceptance automatically meant that a person was entitled to something, that everyone was obligated to help. Personally, it was the mention of a bank account number in the article, implying that everyone ought to help if they were good samaritans, that made me mad. You getting into Harvard is a heroic story in itself, but when the fact that someone gets into Harvard is made into a sense of entitlement and that everyone should go out and help that person, when there were thousands of kids out there who needed help, often times even more than you do now, it just rankled me. Again, I know it had nothing to do with you personally, I'm just explaining myself. I'm not trying to excuse myself for the words I wrote, I just wanted you to understand what I was feeling at that time. I was, and still am, mad at that article.</p>
<p>Again, when I wrote the words I assumed more than I really knew, and again I'm sorry. I hope you have an enjoyable experience at Harvard and best wishes to your future.</p>
<p>P.S. I also realize that I assumed to quickly when I saw that peacock logo. Again, sorry for that.</p>
<p>No problem man...</p>
<p>And thanks for your best wishes guys, I will try my best.</p>