The Idea of an Essay, Volume 3

Research Writing 151 government has made financial aid available for all undergraduate program applicants, specifically returning single parent students. As I have addressed the struggles faced with financial aid assistance and how it affects nontraditional students, peer acceptance is also important. Joan Demeules and Beth Hamer are authors of “Retaining Young Student Parents: A Growing Challenge,” and members of St. Catherine’s University’s Steps To Success Program for single parent students. Both women describe the financial challenges that single parent college students face, but more specifically their lack of life experience, due to age (usually ages 18-22), that becomes a barrier for them. Because of their youth, navigating through financial obstacles can be particularly overwhelming, and even debilitating at times. The St. Catherine’s University Steps to Success program assists nontraditional students with childcare, finance and counseling to maintain their enrollment. Additional aid can be beneficial to students, but having too many special, and specified programs can hinder nontraditional students, rather than increase their probability of success. Sometimes when select individuals (i.e. single parents, persons with disabilities, athletes, the academically challenged, etc.) are given special accommodations, that aren’t assumed by the masses, it can magnify an already negative spotlight. Resentment and exclusion from peers who do not receive accommodations should be expected. Receiving supplementary aid can create conflict within a student body. Furthermore, it does not reflect how the outside world operates, which can be a disservice for students in the long-term. Offering programs for students with unique circumstances can be beneficial for those who require them in order to stay enrolled, and it increases the appeal of the school, but students can also take advantage of the programs offered. This type of manipulation is expressly magnified in the eyes of resentful peers who can make the college experience, and the resolve of nontraditional students, far less attractive (Van Stone, Nelson, Niemann). I have accepted financial aid -which most students receive, but I choose not to utilize specialized school programs, such as Disability Services. Being a single parent at a religious university has already provoked students to act adversely toward me, and I don’t want to attract any more attention.