Today, I woke up early. For me. It was 8:30 AM. I knew today would be a big day. For, I am starting out on how to fund my studies. I first made it to UTA, by 9:30. I know this, because I paid for parking at 9:28, which lasted until 11:28 AM. Then, I went up to the Student Success Center in Ransom Hall. I have been there before. My old baby sitter, Eileen works there. I guess she runs the program. She is normally in her office. But when I went in, the students at the front told me, I would have to wait five minutes. I expected to have to wait. But, it didn’t take long for Eileen to show up.
After Eileen finished her conversation, she came in. She recognized me! “Good sign” I thought. She asked how I was doing, and I said “Fine”. But then, I told her how I signed up for two classes, and that I might have to drop them. Due to unexpected expenses with my car. (Remember, the alternator went out). So, she told me about the “MavShop” for scholarships. She told me she would send me the link in an e-mail. Then, I told her, “I am about to go to the Veteran’s Assistance Center”, to check on the Hazlewood Act. She encouraged me, to come back to TRiO! I was relieved. If I stick with my classes, I definitely will.
Anyways, Eileen was not kidding about sending me the link. She sent the e-mail as soon as I was headed towards the VAC. I appreciated her efforts, and decided to write to her, as soon as I could. (I prefer to write school e-mails from my laptop). Once I got to the VAC I explained my situation.
I still have some of the GI Bill left. But I want to save it for an emergency, because its not a lot. So, they showed me where to go under “forms”, in order to fill out the application. Ok, I got that I realized. On the application form, it asks for a GI Bill Eligibility Letter/Exhaustion letter. Thats why I think I might be able to go ahead and use the Hazlewood Act.
I got home, and began filling out the forms I needed. I also needed my DD-214, and then I called the VA. The VA sent me a copy of my GI Bill Eligibility letter, to my e-mail address. Another e-mail. Well, I got those two documents. Then, “Oh, wait”, I need to fill out the actual Hazlewood Act application, and then upload it to my computer somehow.
So, I filled out the form. Then, I went to scan it on my Dad’s printer. But it turns out, that his particular model of printer doesn’t include scan. So, off to Office Depot I went. After waiting a few minutes, I finally made it to the front of the line, and got my document scanned, and e-mailed to me. After that I went an ate at Chick-Fil-A. Yum.
So, after I ate, I went home. I sat down to finish the form I needed to fill out for my school for the Hazlewood Act. I uploaded all the documents I had, plus filled in my comments about still having some of the GI Bill, and as its not enough to finish school, saving it for an emergency. Then, I pressed “save” and “submit”, but I needed one more form. Its something that shows how much of the Hazlewood I have used. Well, I went to go get this missing form, and I couldn’t access the website. Not on my laptop, not on my phone. So, I looked up a phone number. I found a phone number and called it.
After I called the phone number, they called me back. But I missed it. Yet, they left a message for me. In it they gave me a different phone number. I will share it here, incase you decide to use the Hazlewood Act: 1512-463-3168. So, I called that number, and got through. They asked me to send a screen shot of what was happening. So, I did. I had to send the e-mail three times because I had the wrong e-mail. I kept thinking it was Hazelwood@tvc.taxes.gov. But the e-mail address is actually hazlewood@tvc.texas.gov.
Hannah was the person at the Texas Veteran’s Commission that helped me on the phone. She promptly e-mailed me back, to once she got my e-mail. I am grateful for her help. Who knows, maybe this thing will move forward in part because of her willingness to help. Still have not been able to access the site, but she assured me the IT people were on the case. So, here is another situation, where I just follow the next step, and trust God. Thank you, Hannah!
After that, and some reading, I was hungry. But I was not yet sure what to eat. So, I decided to go see Mom. She and Joey were just lounging in their chairs when I went over. But I gave my Mom the narrative, that I just gave you.
After stopping at my Mom’s I finally headed to go get some food. I decided to go to Grease Monkey, where I could get me a Student Burger and fries, as I now had my student ID again. Thanks to a couple of other people, whose names I don’t have.
That is what a Student Burger looks like. Cheapest burger in town, too.
The Courier 