Personal Development for Smart People Forums - View Single Post - advice for a college student trying to find her way?

pachyderms · 02-29-2008, 06:40 PM

Hello there, I am an eighteen-year-old completing her second (full time) semester at a community college.

I feel very stuck in my situation. I dream of eventually transferring and getting a degree in either fine arts or cultural anthropology, and would love to study or volunteer abroad... Mostly, I want to be independent, knowledgeable and able to travel.
My college is honestly wonderful, but its opportunities are limited. In highschool, I was disorganized and with an average GPA so I did not gain any sort of finance from a scholarship for college. In college, I have maintained a 3.7 GPA and all I want to do is to further my education as much as I can... I have finally found my drive.
Due to financial strains my parents cannot help much (university tuition, housing fees, abroad opportunities are sort of beyond them), and we are barely able to even afford classes at my current college... Transferring is going to be very difficult. I am willing to get a job of my own, but we live an hour away from the city and am unable to afford a car, so it is time-consuming enough to make it to class. I was a nanny last summer, and tried to hold on to the money as long as possible, but now I only have $300 left. I had a car then. I feel like any amount I make will be insubstantial at this point

I am kind of overwhelmed, because my main goal at this point is saving money... I don't know where to start, when I have hardly any as it is. I am a hard worker and, I hope, decently intelligent

Any advice on figuring out where to go from here to get there? Money-making, opportunity-grabbing tips? Summer is coming up and I want to spend it wisely. How do you people "grow up"? I want to start living and I feel trapped and bored.

02-29-2008, 06:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
pachyderms Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1	financial/otherwise advice for a college student, please! Hello there, I am an eighteen-year-old completing her second (full time) semester at a community college. I feel very stuck in my situation. I dream of eventually transferring and getting a degree in either fine arts or cultural anthropology, and would love to study or volunteer abroad... Mostly, I want to be independent, knowledgeable and able to travel. My college is honestly wonderful, but its opportunities are limited. In highschool, I was disorganized and with an average GPA so I did not gain any sort of finance from a scholarship for college. In college, I have maintained a 3.7 GPA and all I want to do is to further my education as much as I can... I have finally found my drive. Due to financial strains my parents cannot help much (university tuition, housing fees, abroad opportunities are sort of beyond them), and we are barely able to even afford classes at my current college... Transferring is going to be very difficult. I am willing to get a job of my own, but we live an hour away from the city and am unable to afford a car, so it is time-consuming enough to make it to class. I was a nanny last summer, and tried to hold on to the money as long as possible, but now I only have $300 left. I had a car then. I feel like any amount I make will be insubstantial at this point I am kind of overwhelmed, because my main goal at this point is saving money... I don't know where to start, when I have hardly any as it is. I am a hard worker and, I hope, decently intelligent Any advice on figuring out where to go from here to get there? Money-making, opportunity-grabbing tips? Summer is coming up and I want to spend it wisely. How do you people "grow up"? I want to start living and I feel trapped and bored. Last edited by pachyderms; 02-29-2008 at 07:13 PM.