It's not that I don't enjoy our numerous encounters throughout the year-- well, actually, it's exactly that.

I may look like an adult, but trust me, I have no idea how this "adult" thing works. In high school, they didn't teach us anything practical. We didn't learn how to properly file for and receive government or school aid. No, we were taught that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell and that the Pythagorean Theorem will definitely be useful to us one day. So far, all that's come out of both of those things are memes. That's really all our generation is good at-- making memes.

Because of this, please forgive me when I walk into your office and don't understand what is going wrong with my financial aid. It's your job to understand all of that, just as it's my job, as a science student, to know calculus and organic chemistry. So, to make our relationship go a little easier, I have a few things I'd like to say on behalf of all the students that have ever emailed you or walked in to your office:

Firstly, keep in mind that you are dealing primarily with two types of students: those that do their own financial aid (either because their guardians can't or won't help) and those that have the help of a parent. In either situation, it's likely that the student isn't as well-versed in the process as you are so please be patient with us.

In addition, please don't bring an attitude into our conversations. I get that having a desk job may not be the most glamorous life, but you're holding the power of one of the most essential parts of our education: money. For you, I may just seem like another uninformed, confused student, but for me, you are a deciding factor in a large amount of my tuition and whether my education continues at this university. Patiently explain the situation to me the same way you would want organic chemistry explained to you if money depended on it. And, like you learning organic chemistry, don't be surprised when my lack of understanding frustrates me or I repeatedly ask for clarification.

Also, please keep in mind that the other staff members at this school have email addresses. It's not just the students. I know it may be fun to send out mass emails about reductions in financial aid and watch the panic begin, but on our side, it's terrifying and time-consuming. Instead of telling us all to email our teachers about an issue (and this is a pretty crazy idea) why not email them yourselves? Try to fix the situation before alerting the students? Place the blame on the teachers for not doing their job rather than students? That way they can get all their information to you rather than doing it student-by-student, and I wouldn't have had to spend the last hour trying to figure this mess out.

Remember that we're both doing our best. You just want a relaxing day, and we just want our money to be put to its proper use. Let's work together to avoid future stress and stupidity.