As I opened the envelope, I could not believe what I read. The letter from the financial aid office stated I would have no more financial aid for college next year. The news was devastating.  I was heartbroken. How would I continue as a student without financial aid? My dream was to be the first in my family to go to college. My mother had a high school diploma.  My father never went to high school, let alone college. I had worked and saved money since I was fourteen years old to pay for college. I felt I had come so far, graduating early from high school, getting into CU Boulder, only to have it ripped from me.

I contacted the financial aid office to find out what happened. Was this a mistake? That was my hope and prayer. I was told financial aid rules had changed. My father could borrow money against his cattle ranch land to send me to college. My dad had struggled too long and too hard to get the ranch. He would not borrow against it to pay for my college education. I wouldn’t ask him, because I knew the answer would be “No”.  I knew I was now totally on my own. What would I do? Would I have to drop out of college and earn enough money to come back? It was the last thing I wanted to do. I was afraid I would never get back to finish my degree.

I shared my dilemma with a friend. He suggested I look at a college near him in Missouri. It was a small, liberal arts, women’s college.  The cost was three times what I was paying.  If I could not afford CU Boulder, how would I afford a more expensive school?  I had nothing to lose by visiting the college.

I enjoyed the visit to the campus. I liked the personal feel. I liked the idea of knowing my professors. I knew I could get a good education here. I went to the financial aid office with my heart pounding. Could I be admitted as a mid-year transfer? Did they have financial aid to give me? When the admissions director told me the college would not only admit me as a late transfer, but they could give me financial aid too, I was elated! I did not have to drop out of college. I did not have to put my dreams on hold. I transferred from University of Colorado to William Woods in January.

Over the next few years I learned more about the financial aid process. I learned there is a difference between my perspective as a consumer, and the college perspective as an institution. I learned how to choose a college based on my educational needs and my financial needs. I learned how to be an advocate for my needs by communicating with the financial aid office directly.

This was the beginning of a path I have traveled for many years. I have a passion for helping students and families navigate the intricate journey through higher education. I know first hand how intimating the process can be, yet how crucial having the correct knowledge is to making informed choices. Choosing the right colleges to apply to and getting financial aid can impact a student and their families for a lifetime. Through experience, knowledge and perseverance, I became an expert on financial aid and college affordability.

I have trained over 1000 counselors, teachers and administrators from across the country. I have presented in front of national audiences. I started a technology company with coding designed around the financial aid process. It all started with a letter of denial, a spark of determination, and a path to follow.