|  Just Please Lend an Ear for a Minute.........My name is Shiekhyla; I graduated from high school back in 2002, all the way up to the present I have been in school working on college courses so that I would be able to get into a Nursing Program; it really has been a struggle for me but I have never given up. In November 2008 my dream finally came true when I got accepted to St. Joseph's Hospital School of Nursing. It is a Registered Nursing Program where I can become a RN in just one year......yes that's too good to be true. And the program would start on January 5, 2009.
I was so happy that I cried. I responded to the school, gave them the rest of my documentation so that my application package would be completed, only thing now is that I had to meet with a Financial Aid person because the tuition would cost $25,000, and I knew without some kind of Financial Aid that I could not afford it. I met with her, and the only kind of Financial Aid which was available was Sallie Mae; I tried two people and I was denied; I was devastated. All my life I have worked so hard in school, and I never thought in a million years that financial problems would come in my way to reaching my dreams. Since the school was opened for only two years the school wasn't accredited to receive financial aid from other sources, and my class would have made the third class which would have made the school accredited.
In order to finish my application package I had to give $250.00 to hold my seat, but since I was denied Sallie Mae assistance I went no further, what was the use when I knew that I couldn't afford it. So I continued to work as a Nurse Assistant, and it's not a lot of money in that, but that was all I could do. Then weeks later I got something in mail from the school that it was going to be receiveing PHEAA; I became so excited because now my goal is on its way to becoming a reality, so I called my father and he gave me a check for the amount to hold my seat.
On Jan 5, 2009 I started the program, again I was excited. I worked so hard, studying so much to the late hours, getting good grades. The Judge of the Nursing Program came to talk to the whole class about PHEAA because majority of the class was waiting for PHEAA just like I was, but the Judge kept say, "It's looking good, don't worry......it's going to come through." IThe class and I believed him, so I continued coming everyday. He came to the class many times, and many times students kept asking about PHEAA; he reassured us that it was going to come through, to continue attending class, so I continued studying hard.
On Febuary 27, 2009 my dreams was crushed when he came to the class and he called a whole list of names to go upstairs to meet with Shawana the financial aid lady. I was the first name called on the list. I went to her office, sat down, and she said the money was needed now. The school wanted $5,550 right away and $6,250 by the end of March, I asked her who was close to $12,000 to give, if I had it, I would have gave it. I told her that the Judge kept saying PHEAA is looking good so what happened. She said if I don't have to money they would have to make the class smaller. I wanted to cry because I knew I didn't have the money before I gave my seat deposit, but they wrote to me, they told me that PHEAA was coming through and I believed them. I knew that what was said to me went for the rest of the students in my class who was standing behind the door waiting for their names to be called also. After every person's name was called, there was only 14 people who was left seated in the class out of 60 students.
After so many students came from seeing Shawana; people cried which made me cry, so many people made some kind of sacrifice to attend the program. I'm myself i am a mother of four kids, my oldest being eight and my youngest one; each person told a story, some people were going to lose their homes, many people quit their jobs, each person made a sacrifice, myself included. In order for the program to continue 30 students are needed, and there is only 14 students who paid some kind of finance. It's a possibility that the program will close; no one wants to lend money because of the economy.
I am the student who is featured on the school's website which is www.sjhson.org. Since it is a new school which is going on three years, people don't really know about it, it's on 8th and Girard in Philadelphia. I'm not only worried about myself; I'm worried about my classmates too because this is not only my dream, it's all of our dreams because we all came to the program to become Registered Nurses and our dream is about to be taken from us. I wish there was something else I was able to do because I would help all of my classmates out as well, but the only thing I am able to do is write a letter, and I hope this is enough for someone out there to help us, help the school stay opened. I don't wish for fame or fortune, I just wish to become an RN. This is our dream, please help keep it alive. Thankyou for lending an ear. Please spread the word, the school needs to become known.
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