Resources

Paying for My Education

Choose roles and act out the following.

MEKALA: Wow. I learned a lot about different schools this week.

CONSUELO: You should have seen her. She went right up and talked with all those people. I couldn’t keep up.

ROBERT: Do you have a final choice?

MEKALA: No, but I’ve narrowed it to two options.

CONSUELO: And I’m down to three good options.

KWAME: That’s great, you guys. I think I’m about nowhere.

ROBERT: What do you mean?

KWAME: Oh, I’m still feeling pretty confused. Or maybe just scared. Nobody in my family has ever gone to school past a basic level. I spoke with five different schools and it was overwhelming. The requirements seemed complicated and the costs—I’d never find that much money.

ROBERT: Isn’t that how you felt at the beginning of your mission?

KWAME: Well, yeah, come to think of it. I did.

CONSUELO: But you were really successful.

KWAME: It took a while, but, I really was blessed. And I grew into it.

MEKALA: I’m a bit frightened, too. The finances seem impossible. But I talked with a sister in my ward who did everything she could and then got a loan to pay for the rest. It was a PEF loan. Maybe if we just keep helping each other, the details will work out.

ROBERT: And there is a brother in my ward who paid for the first year and earned a scholarship for the second.

CONSUELO: My husband and I are trying to figure out where we can save a little, and I have an uncle who may be able to help.

KWAME: Well, no rich uncles in my family. But we’ve come this far and I can’t quit dreaming. Maybe you’re right, Mekala. I’m going to give it a couple more weeks, if you guys will keep encouraging me.

Back to page 45