For the homeless, the public library is a saving grace. Most are open Monday to Saturday and I was able to visit one regularly. On my first visit to Highland Sam J. Racadio Library and Environmental Center–it caters to children and has animals–I wrote a children’s story in my notebook. Eventually, I read rather than wrote children’s stories. When I did not feel I could finish a normal book, I read children’s books.
Feeling hungry, depressed, and possibly suffering from a stroke, a regular book became difficult to complete. Perhaps it was the stress of being homeless that made reading so difficult. I could not read a book till the end at the library. Reading children’s books kept me dedicated to finishing one book per visit. I enjoyed them like I enjoy family animated cartoons. I read about light, a cat, and poetry.
For the homeless, a book is a luxury. As a matter of fact, reading those books afforded me the ability to review them through a library program. Other luxuries included using the computer lab where I wrote content for my website and also published “Feet Hurt” – a small book of poems that won inclusion in Indie California.
Continuing Education
One way to end this misery would be to return to education. Imagine living in the dorms rather than on the road! That entails applying to schools and it takes time. I had to contact the school I was accepted into while still needing food for that day and to get to the safest place I could before it was too late. In order to apply for financial aid. I needed information for the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Moreover, there were passwords that I could not remember and official transcripts from out of town that I could not pay for online. As for free transcripts, I don’t think that the lady on the phone understood what I was asking. Finally, may the heavens help if anyone steals your wallet and with other unimaginable atrocities of being homeless, it did happen. Day to day, hour to hour and minute to minute is critical for the homeless.
Any school would have worked for me. In fact, I tried contacting the university I was accepted into, and they helped. They gave me the option to meet a recruiter, but the next day it did not materialize. Minor inconveniences magnified themselves as I had to leave where I was in order to find a place to stay.
I used the computer lab at the library again to apply. I applied to NYFA (New York Film Academy) and I was accepted contingent upon my official transcripts. I had no clue how to get them as I had no money and I could not visit my school in San Diego. If I made any mistakes, I would happily admit to it. For instance, if the transcripts could be sent to NYFA for free, everything could work out. NYFA said I would have to apply after telling me I was accepted contingent upon official transcripts! Eventually, I got a ride to San Diego for my transcript, but the application deadline had passed.
Way Forward
Stability is key, but mostly I was living in my car – a luxury that needed gas to get to places – until eventually it died. Surviving everyday makes it difficult to enroll in school even if you overcame odds and completed a degree or two. So, I enrolled in an ongoing open poetry class thanks to the computer lab. If I make it to a traditional school, I might transfer the course credits. I dedicated myself to work on it after signing up for the poetry class. I am currently taking an open course at Hillsdale College using the luxury of my phone to enroll.
Despite having developed a disability during my homelessness saga, I hope to eventually complete my BA, but I have learned that education is a journey and completion comes with the satisfaction of progress. Thus reconceptualizing our views of education can be another saving grace to cope with the challenges of homelessness.
Read more personal stories on our Zealousness blog Personal stories Archives – iN Education Inc.
