I am a Junior at SUNY Purchase studying Political Science with the goal of becoming a criminal defense attorney. I am the first in my family to go to school, and I have found that there is a lack of guidance and understanding of finances. It makes it hard to follow a timeline of responsibilities needed to be done. I get financial aid, private loans, and still have to pay a portion out of pocket. I work two jobs on top of an internship and this still doesn’t make ends meet. Jobs and internships also require funds for transportation or they cut into my time needed to be at work to afford school. I have struggled with receiving scholarships or grants to help me pay and feel a lack of support in getting this aid.