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Five-thousand dollars in 24 hours. Perhaps if I gyrated behind Beyoncé or hooked-up with super-star athletes, instead of investing in degrees, I could collect that sum.
If my senior citizen parents hadn't financed my undergraduate education, taken care of my siblings and their babies, perhaps my parents could lend me the money.
I was screwed. Without that money, I would miss a prestigious opportunity to study in London. Although initially, it was supposed to be free through NCCU travel grants.
Why didn't I receive my funding until 12 days after I returned home from the summer program, when I submitted my request a month in advance of the trip itself.
It all began with many phone calls and feisty e-mails, until "they" finally processed my paperwork and approved my funding.
Immediately, I updated my Facebook gloating about my awards and trip to 1,000 frenemies.
"Yes!" I thought, until I received the email: "We didn't get the OK on your funding ... can you find another way to pay?"
This request to pay $5,000 was less than 24 hours before my flight was to take off.
My story ended happily, sort of. My parents scraped enough money to last me until my refund check cleared, and I flew to London on a pre-purchased ticket.
Once my refund cleared, I had a blast.
Unfortunately, when I returned, the fairy-tale ended.
My rent was late, and my parents needed their money back. I was moving, and my old apartment would not approve my move because they thought I was defaulting on my now three week late rent, and my new apartment denied my application on those grounds.
I had a huge exam, but could not stop stressing over my financial drama.
Before I left, I was advised to submit a reimbursement which should have taken three days to process.
I submitted the paperwork the day after I landed, but 11 days later the reimbursement was nowhere to be seen.
Am I to blame for believing "they" would reimburse me in the projected time, or should I have foregone the opportunity to study abroad?
I thought that "they" would assist students excelling internationally and nationally, especially with NCCU's bad press over the past few years.
You would think that maybe "their" mistakes were specific to me, but of course not.
Three other students in my program were almost denied funding for their summer programs as well.
Eagles cannot soar above the rest when encumbered by financial woes and inept staff. My professors advocated for me, but they should not have had to.
I will not degrade my University by conflating the unhelpful minority, "they," with the larger, empathetic majority. Still, NCCU employs "them," and "they" threaten to sour other's experiences like "they" did mine.
"They" discourage soon-to-be NCCU alumni from donating. What's worse is the fact that this scenario could easily have occurred at any HBCU. As HBCU's, we must demand better.
NCCU, I demand better! While some students and employees deign to be here, I'm in debt to be here. I only hope that NCCU will filter these so-called-Eagles from the convocation.
Thanks to all true Eagles who've encouraged me and advocated on my behalf.
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