Letter to the Editor: Government should help out hardworking individuals

Alieshia Morris

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First, I want to say kudos to author Jenn Lyles. I applaud your

decision to move to the U.S. and work hard to pay for your

education. Well done. However, I do not echo your sentiments in

this week’s newspaper. Many students do abuse the system and use

college as a means to get free money with no intentions of

graduating; however, don’t pile all pell grant recipients into the

same group. 

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My sister and I receive pell grants to help pay for our education.

My sister uses hers to pay for her dorm and meal plan expenses. I

use mine every semester to pay ahead on bills, so I won’t have to

worry about my monthly expenses. 

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With that being said, we wouldn’t receive a pell grant if my

parents hadn’t divorced five years ago. While my parents were

married, my mom stayed at home to raise my siblings (I have a

younger brother) and I while my father provided for our family and

worked towards his degree. 

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After graduating, he told my mom he wanted a divorce. I don’t

intend for this to be a “woe-is-me” story. My siblings and I have

been blessed with parents who, despite their divorce, go above and

beyond to raise us. Although my mother hasn’t earned a degree, she

has secured a permanent position in the municipal court system and

is certified by the University of Alabama as a court magistrate;

however, my mother’s income is still below the federal poverty

limit.

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 I can empathize with your struggle. The government should help

hard-working individuals like you. However, you shouldn’t feel that

way about pell recipients. Many have to work just as hard to finish

school. If you did receive a pell grant, would you want people to

think that way of you?