This is what some parent wrote on one of my student's homework paper: "Language and Math should never be MIXED. This is BAD MATH! Mrs. Chai, this was a poor Math exercise. There is too much language." The assignment had to do with identifying the different parts of a division equation, such as dividend, divisor, and quotient, reading and figuring out which is which, and answering True or False to certain statements about divison equations.

Anyways, I think it was a worthy assignment, but the comment just put a damper on my day. Having your professional integrity questioned is just not fun.

Anyways, SN, my parents did not pay a DIME for my college education. I worked through college. I always had some kind of job. I had the maximum amount of student loans, which I'm paying back right now, and for years to come. I received grants from the school, and applied for scholarships from outside sources. In fact, when I waited in the financial aid line at the start of every quarter (with Patty and James), the school paid me! Usually I had a little left over, which I used to buy books. I think finances should never stand in the way of education. I firmly believe this. We live in America, and where there's a will, there's a way. I hope you can find comfort in that. And sometimes, to be debt-free is... heaven. Literally.