My name is Alicia Carson and I'm new to this mailing list, so I thought I'd take a moment to introduce myself.
I am 28 year old American who was at one time an English major at Mount St. Mary's College in Los Angeles, CA. In January 1995, my last semester of undergraduate school, my student loan defaulted because I did not properly notify lenders of my transfer from a junior college in one state to a private school in another. Since I did not notify them, the lenders had no proof of my continued full-time student status and after a year and a half of not hearing from me placed my federally funded student loan in default, which automatically cancelled all other aid I was receiving for the year, and thus I was dismissed from school.
That was a hard knock for me, especially with all of my aspirations for continued studies in grad school.
It took quite some time for me to get over my bitterness and to begin repaying my debt, but I am now out of default and plan to return to school to finally finish my final semester of undergraduate studies this fall.
And it's a good thing I've been out school as long as I have, maybe, because it's been since my time out of school that I've developed an incredible passion for issues related to the Caribbean. This strong driving force in particular, is what has pushed me to do whatever it takes to get back in school, even when obstacles have seemed so huge to me.
I've joined this message board group with hopes of pinpointing what, exactly, it is I plan to study in grad school. For instance, I absolutely love the study of literature (Russian, American, Southern African, West Indian, all kinds), but have also developed a specific and tremendous appetite for West Indian history and current events. And after spending six months in the Bahamas as an intern (an organization was gracious enough to accept me even after my dismissal from school), I've found I am also interested in educational issues related to educational systems' development in the Bahamas, Haiti and other Caribbean nations. I'm also interested in relations between the Bahamas, Haiti, Cuba, and the U.S. Help!! I feel I'm drowning in all of my interests!!
I believe my interaction with participants on this message board will offer direction as I prepare for grad school, and I feel privileged to have come across such an excellent resource.
I look forward to our interaction.
Regards
Alicia in San Diego
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