An act of bravery

If bravery is action in the face of fear, than I made an act of bravery today. I have no clue if I will be able to get financial aid for college. But I paid my $35, filled out an application, attached my essay and submitted it. I'm scared that there will be no funds for me. Or that by earning $22K in 2003, I made too much money to qualify.

I have to have money to live on, as well as pay for college. Loans and grants, loans and grants. Pell grant, where are you when I need you?

For the last 30 years I have paid taxes, defended my country for nine of them. I truly hope there's money for this odyessy.

Performance-Based Admission

I went back up to RIC to apply for admission today. Filled out the application, paid my $35 fee, turned in my essay, got a checklist of things required for PBA students. Transcripts--High School: Called my alma mater and requested they send it to RIC. CCRI, will do Monday, going to go down and deliver it by hand. Letter of recommendation from "employer or church member" stating that I am ready to begin a college program.

My FAFSA application (Financial aid thingie) is on file with RIC already. Huzzah! No need to worry about that. Man, I am glad I specified that it go to them when I filled it out earlier this year.

Once all that is done, I'll be scheduled for an admission interview. I'm going to do it this time, folks.

Rhode Island College Entrance Essay
Nov 12, 2004

If I could meet any historic figure, I'd like to meet Jane Verin, the woman who was beaten by her husband in order to keep her from attending meetings with Roger Williams.

It may seem that my reason is pragmatic in nature. I'm researching her story to write a book. However, the reasons behind writing the book are not so concretely pragmatic. Women's voices are absent or silent in history. I'm of the opinion that this is because women have been relegated to secondary roles in western culture. We cannot know what has been lost with the death of each illiterate woman. I'd like to sing their songs, but the melody and the words are silent.

Some of the questions I would ask her include:

How did you come to Providence? What prompted you to leave Salem? Why did you leave Salisbury to come to Massachusetts Bay Colony?

How did you keep warm in winter? Did you ever learn to read and write? How does your Christianity manifest in your day-to-day life? Did Joshua hit you regularly? Do you blame the other men in Providence for instigating Joshua to beat you?

Roger Williams said you were willing to go with Joshua--is this true? Why? Do you feel that God ordained that he should hit you to make you submit to his will?

What happened that day when he nearly beat you to death? Who helped you? What about your mother? Did she know that you were being beaten? Did she cry out against it?

How do you feel about the town voting to disenfranchise Joshua? Was it too harsh? Was it too lenient?

Do you feel that you have the right to follow your conscience regardless of your husband's beliefs?

What was Joshua like? Was he as young and boisterous as Roger Williams said?

Did you know Ann Hutchinson? Was she your friend? Did you talk about religion? Did you agree with her?

Finally, I'd ask what happened to her after she was "haled in ropes to Salem". Did she die in prison? Why did she disappear from all records after being jailed for not attending worship services?


© E. Howe
All rights reserved. Do not copy this essay for your own collegiate use. To do so is academic dishonesty.

Back in communication

Since Bush is still in power (I'm reluctant to say that the election was hijacked) I've made some pretty big decisions. I'm going back to school, this time for pre-law. I'll prolly get my 4 year degree in English. This is a change from my previous decision to get a degree in History. My friend Susan recommends that I go with what I'm best at, and get the high grades in something I know already. That will make admission into a law school a bit easier.

I'm going to be turning 45 on the 17th. I'd like to take my Bar exams by the time I'm 55. I'm going to be using this blog to document my journey.

I've decided to go to Rhode Island College. It's less than 5 miles from my house, I already have residency in this state, and it's reasonably priced, tuition wise. I'm going to be applying for loans, grants and scholarships. I'm not above begging.

These next 10 years are going to be lean. Come the end of my Bachelor's degree, I'm going to have to apply to another University to study law.

My goal is to practice Constitutional law.

The Patriot Act scares me. I'm seeing preludes to fascism. I don't like that Evangelical Christians, who do not represent the majority of Democratic Christians are imposing their religious beliefs on the rest of us.

Wish me luck.
AW.