Last week, my family and I went out to dinner. A normal family activity you might think, but not this time. Last week was the first time in months that we had gone out to eat. What used to be a weekly ritual, turned into a rare occurrence after the market took a dramatic turn last October. My family is pretty plugged into the business world, so I am used to lectures and family discussions about bad loans and the dismal housing market.
My family was conscious of the economy before its downturn, but now the current situation has everyone talking, even stereotypical nonchalant teens. This crisis has really hit home.
Everyone, not just my family, is cutting back. Going out to eat, traveling and mall excursions have been significantly reduced. Businesses are suffering, banks are collapsing … this crisis is omnipresent and looks like it’s going to be difficult to reverse anytime soon.
I am concerned about this current situation, not because last Christmas the presents I received fit in less than a square foot of space (it actually was the best Christmas I ever had, and the best presents I ever received), but because of (here she goes again) college.
I applied to a number of private schools with every intention of attending one of them. But now with the economy, less money is circulating and colleges are less inclined to grant me financial aid to help me pay for the tens of thousands of tuition dollars.
Adding to my stress is that this year is the largest number of high-school graduates in U.S. history … no pressure or anything. I never thought I would find myself saying this, but there is a very high chance that I may end up going to a public, in-state school, not that there is nothing wrong with that; I would be perfectly happy going to Western or the UW (of which I have both been accepted to), but truth be told, I am scared.
I am scared of 400-people lecture halls, I am scared of the professors I may never have an opportunity to talk to and the classes that I can’t get into as an underclassmen. Throughout high school, I have always been the one to ask an annoying amount of questions in class. I do all my homework, but might not always ace the tests. I am scared because in this economy, I might not be able to choose the course of education that I would benefit the most from because of money.
This economy is affecting everyone, and is a topic of discussion found in Inglemoor High’s hallways on a daily basis. For now, all I can do is sit tight and see what aid private schools grant me. Until then, I will try to dwell on the fact that there are many others that have been hit harder by this economy, and try to make the best of my situation.
Elsa Watland is an Inglemoor High senior.
