Student Loans Personal Statement

My need for financial assistance The main reason why I chose to study in the United States of America was to seek out better and more opportunities. I am a Performing Arts major and it is no secret that the United States would naturally have better education and training opportunities for me. I also had a dream to be part of the American student life culture. During my senior year in High School my parents and I decided that we will work hard and seek out every opportunity we can to assist my education in the United States of America. The biggest challenge is the problem that I can’t apply for student loans. Since I am an international student I cannot apply for loans in the United States. I am also not allowed to apply for loans in South Africa, since I am no completing my studies there. This has the result that my parents and I have to pay full tuition, housing and board, additional fees and traveling. My father is a reverent and my mother self-employed. With the help of my grandfather, my father is able to make payments.

This allowed me to finish all my core classes at a less expensive tuition rate. I worked as a Community Assistant in the Residential Halls in order to receive free housing and board. I was very privileged to obtain a theatre, music and dance scholarship after my first semester based on my onstage, off stage and academic performance. During my last two years I sang in the Marvin United Methodist Church and worked part-time on campus in order to help my parents with expenses. Tyler Junior College also had an installment plan available that helped make payments less stressful. Even though I received a lot of financial assistance, it was still challenging at times, especially having to pay out of state