On Many Subjects

My regular readers know I don't rant very often. But, today...

Okay. So I had this student come into my office to sign up for a supplemental loan from a company that will give loans to almost any student because if you don't pay them they will hunt you down quicker than the Godfather. And then take your favorite kitten away, not to mention your head, ass and overcoat, too. At 12% interest. We use this company for students who have exhausted all other avenues of financing their education.

Anyway, this student came in, all attitude-y in the first place because we had given her an ultimatum... give us money or leave the school. We don't give away education for free so the decision seemed fair. (For the record, I would love to be able to give every student an education for free, Including myself, but that is not my choice.)

Where was I? Oh, Miss Attitude. She explained her circumstances: Everyone hates her so she can't get a co-signor on a loan, she has a terrible job and can't afford to make payments to the school, she is in debt, she has car payments and rent to pay (Just like the rest of the world) and... here is my favorites... she can't afford to buy her boyfriend a Christmas present and her cable is about to be turned off. OH. KAY. So maybe she should tell the boyfriend to forget about Christmas this year and then allow her cable to turned off and watch local TV stations instead. It can me done.

Instead, she gets angry with me because I entered her student ID number wrong... a thing that can be corrected quite easily, and I did. But, then she doesn't want to sign the loan papers.

Student: That is totally wrong and I am not going to sign this.
Me: I corrected it and you initialed the correction, so it doesn't matter.
S: Yes, it does. This is so wrong.
Me: We do not use the Student ID number to track the loan. We use your name and your Social Security Number.
S: But it was still wrong.
Me: It was in the beginning, but it is all better now.
S: I am not signing.
Me: You don't have to.
S: Good.
Me: I will get the form for you to withdraw from class.
S: What?
Me: If you don't sign the paper, you have to withdraw from classes. There are a number of options open to you. This is one of the most expensive programs in the area. Your financial aid will cover your tuition at a cheaper school. Maybe transferring to another school is an option for you.
S: But, I want to go to this school.
Me: Then, you have to sign the loan.
S: This is so unfair.
Me: What is unfair about it?
S: You are making me do this and I don't want to.
Me: I am not making you do anything. You do have choices.
S: So, I have to sign the paper?
Me: If you want to stay here another year, yes.
S: OK. I will sign, but I want you to know I am not happy about this. And this whole thing is wrong. It is wrong to make me do this. You are totally wrong and I shouldn't have to sign a paper that is wrong.
Me:...
S: Give me a pen.
Me: Here, use mine.
S: This is still wrong.
Me: What is so wrong about this? You want an education, but you are not willing to pay for it. You want a completely free ride. You don't want to take responsibility for your adulthood. You want someone else to pay your way. I told you to fill out the forms for the scholarships and grants that are available out there and with some of them all you have to do is apply and you will get it, but did you do that? No! You didn't. I tell all the students to fill out the forms, to search the internet for more grants and scholarships, to go to the library and search there, too. Did you do any of that? No. You didn't. You would rather come in here and give me a totally hard time when I have a sinus headache and I have been working for eleven hours straight and then get all attitude-y with me because I told you that you have to apply for a loan that you are guaranteed to get to help you pay for your education. We are doing everything WE can to help you so why don't you help yourslef? What is so wrong in this... I thought to myself. I told her: Thank you very much for taking the time to come into Financial Aid.
S: Whatever.

And she stomped out. I need a patience award because I did not slap her and that nasty glare she kept on giving me.

Doesn't she realize we did her a favor? Doesn't she realize that without my help, she would have had to withdraw? When did I get to be the bad guy in this?