Facing Uncertainty in the Wake of New Legislation: A Young Adult’s Struggle for a Better Future
As a 20-year-old navigating a challenging life journey, I find myself confronting significant obstacles that threaten my aspirations. Earlier this year, I moved from Alabama to Texas under difficult circumstances—displaced, living in my car, and seeking stability. My initial plan was to enroll in a university in Texas, aiming to participate in study abroad programs or even attend foreign universities to broaden my horizons.
So far, I’ve managed to secure a spot at a community college and maintain a GPA of 3.6 after two semesters. My goal was to leverage this academic milestone to transfer into a university and eventually pursue higher education overseas. Unfortunately, recent legislative changes—specifically, a bill introduced by former President Trump—have put this plan in doubt. The fear is that mounting financial barriers, coupled with my reliance on SNAP benefits, may soon render university attendance impossible, pushing me toward homelessness once again.
The dream of studying abroad has become more urgent, transforming from an aspirational goal into a possible escape route from my current hardships. I intended to use my community college GPA as a stepping stone into a university here, and from there, transfer internationally. My initial research led me to Germany, partly because I am most familiar with it, but I’ve encountered obstacles—such as the fact that Germany doesn’t recognize credits from community colleges, and I’m unsure if my GPA would be a factor in their admissions process.
My academic record has hurdles: a 2.1 GPA in high school, largely due to family circumstances that forced me to withdraw from school repeatedly. Despite my efforts to move past these challenges, it now feels as though my ambitions are slipping away, especially if financial support is cut or I am left without shelter once again.
Faced with these barriers, I am contemplating whether to abandon my current educational pursuits entirely in favor of trade school—though this isn’t my true passion. I’ve always dreamt of working in forensic science, and I’ve fought hard to stand my ground for that goal. It’s discouraging to feel everything working against me, and I can’t help but ask: Is pursuing community college even worthwhile anymore? Should I continue here, or should I consider leaving the country altogether and starting anew to build an educational path abroad?
I’m overwhelmed by the ticking clock—time feels limited, and I worry that if I don’t act decisively now, I