EP4: A No Loan Zone Journey: Zarai’s story

Zarai Aquino came to the United States in the fall of 2017 after a hurricane struck the island of Puerto Rico. Her story is how she navigated the transition from high school to college without taking out student loans. Despite a twenty year age gap between her and her sisters, Zarai learned first hand the stress and frustration that can come from mounting student debts.

Key takeaways:

• Fill out the FAFSA form: https://studentaid.gov/
• Do your research. Check out your college’s website. Look for scholarships, grants and programs that can help you pay for college.
• Don’t understand something? Ask questions. Go to the Financial Aid office and don’t be shy about asking for help.

Also, if you are unsure about your career direction and want help on completing a degree, debt free, you can reach the host of this podcast, Janet Maltbie, at radiowannabe.com/contact. She teaches a totally online career exploration class through Lorain County Community College, called Career Exploration and Life Planning, SDEV 103.