Posted by:
catnip
(
)
Date: October 08, 2017 05:43PM
I wasn't a Mormon when at school, but I was stuck at San Diego State (which isn't a bad school, it's just that it forced me to live at home, with my horrible mother.)
My longtime good buddy since elementary school was already attending UCLA, which was just far away from home that the parents could stay in touch but not be nuisances. We were both majoring in Spanish. She sent me a full application packet. I filled it out promptly and sent it back.
In the meantime, for you, work hard to get the best grades you can. They are your bargaining chips, and you want to bring as much as you can to the bargaining table.
I was accepted at UCLA on such a great scholarship that my mother, who would have screamed "NO!" at the top of her lungs, could not turn it down. It covered just about everything - tuition, dorm housing, books, you name it. About all I had to do was show up.
It was a glorious adventure - and best of all, it was far enough from Mother that she ceased to be an annoyance. My longtime friend became my roommate, and we took most of our classes together. We were extremely competitive, so the two of us always had the best grades in our classes, neck-and-neck with each other, and pretty far ahead of the rest of the crowd.
Whatever extra money I needed for pens, pencils, notebooks, an occasional item of clothing, snacks for our dorm room, and stuff like that came out of $134/month I got from Social Security, as my father had passed away. I made that $134 stretch until it begged for mercy.
I loved UCLA. It was the right learning environment for me. But even more, it was a secure refuge from my horrible mother, and at that time in my life, I needed that, as much as I needed a good education.
Get the best, shiniest grades you can, right where you are, so you have something to trade with. Then, start looking into "away" colleges. They may be in-state, or out-of state. But plan ahead, turn yourself into a highly marketable candidate and you can do it.
Make it your goal to turn yourself into an applicant they can't say "no" to. It may feel fraudulent, like you are just playing a part. But Adam, it could very possibly be your ticket OUT.
This plan worked for me, and it worked for several other people I have known over the years. Plan as if your life depended on it, take it in small steps, and GO for it.