For many high school students, the hardest part about college admission is actually getting accepted.
However, for some, the question of how they will afford a quality education is a far more pressing issue.
Kaitlyn Micciche, 17, a senior at Blake High School on North Boulevard, falls into this latter camp.
She is a member of the school’s National Honor Society, a harpist, a cheerleader, a leader within JROTC, a Key Club honor society member and a Fine Arts Student council member.
Micciche dreams of one day working in the medical field. “I want to become a pediatrician,” she said. “I’ve wanted to do it for the longest time. I love kids. I love helping people.”
The main roadblock to Micciche’s medical aspirations: money.
She said her family has recently struggled financially, leaving her higher education hopes in doubt.
“I don’t have shoes,” she said. “I have this one pair of sandals that I have worn all year, but I’ve grown out of them now. … Cheerleading shoes … are the only ones I have and I can only wear them [while] cheerleading.”
She said she has five siblings and step-siblings and that sometimes her family’s financial priorities are not focused on basics like shoes.
To her peers at Blake, she said she attempts to come across like a regular student with no troubles.
“A couple of my really close friends know … I don’t really tell people,” she said.
“My boyfriend’s family is trying to help me out and buy me some things I need, though. I don’t feel much different from other students. I still have a lot of friends.”
Due to the related fees, Micciche wasn’t able to afford the enrollment applications to other major universities in Florida.
She caught a break with the University of Tampa. She said university officials met with her in person during a visit to Blake, looked over her transcripts, and told her she was accepted on the spot.
According to Micciche, her subsequent application was accepted for free. Micciche was also awarded with a scholarship of $9,500.
However, a week later, the school called to inform her of down payment fees of $500 if she planned to live on-campus or $300 if planning to stay off-campus. The phone call made her realize she would not be able to afford college.
She has subsequently not asked for help from the university. She is unsure what to do next.
She said she may join the navy, if she cannot attend school. She remains determined to fulfill her long-term dream of becoming a pediatrician.
“It will probably take longer for me now, because I don’t think they have many pediatricians in the military,” she said. “I don’t know if I can be a pediatrician anymore, but I’m going to try for it.”
When asked whether she thought money should determine the future of her education, Micciche responded, “I think everyone should have an opportunity at school and to achieve what they want to … I’d be really happy [to have the money to attend UT] because it’s something I wanted a really long time and I’ve worked towards it. I just want to get what I need to get there.”
According to junior international business and economics major Melissa Caban, “There should be cases where the school waives expenses for students with special circumstances. She went the extra mile so she could find the financial assistance. When students exert substantial effort to better their futures and ensure that they are able to further pursue their education, it’s a shame to see those efforts go to waste, especially for situations such as this.”
Aja White, a senior English major at UT, recently found out about Micciche’s situation. She started rallying other students to help the high school-er in need. She sent Facebook messages asking other students to send clothing and shoes for Micciche. She even made an announcement in front of the University’s Intervarsity Christian Fellowship to gather some supplies and a prom dress.
“Just knowing what it’s like where money can’t get you what you need, you feel kind of bad,” White said.
“I know what it’s like to not have, so I really wanted to help. It makes you feel good inside.” White acknowledged that the constraints brought on by class status is at times unfair.
“This opens your eyes to the injustice that economic status creates,” she said. “There are students who achieve less academic success than Kaitlyn, but are granted a better education because of the money their parents make. Kaitlyn has worked hard. She deserves a chance.”
Micciche expressed gratitude toward White and the other UT students trying to help her.
“It feels great that UT students are helping me,” she said. “I reach out to others a lot without anything in return like at church and ROTC, but I haven’t felt like someone has reached out to me until now.”
Nicole Robinson can be reached at nrobinson@spartans.ut.edu.
I agree, good article. It was well written and brings a valid point, but there are ways to afford college. ROTC is one, loans (not preferable) are another, etc. I wish her the best of luck and know what she’s going through.
Very good point Cody. ROTC is a good way to go for those who can’t afford school.
I’m so sorry to hear about this story. But this is the same story for MANY STUDENTS. If college is important to an individual they will find a way. I personally had a very hard time finding money to pay for college. But I worked my way through, took out a student loan, and worked with financial aid to make it work. It IS possible. I saw this yound lady is a leader in JROTC…she should look into the ROTC program at UT with possibly getting a scholarship. They could also help her out with her medical aspirations.