When I was thirteen, I moved to the US from El Salvador - back in the early 1980's during a full-fledge civil war in El Salvador. I came to live in a working class neighborhood southeast of Downtown LA( and I did have a greencard). Boy!...the first few months were very tough - I cried, I wanted to go home....even if it meant war! I did not speak a word of English. Made it though 7th-8th grade and learned enough English to do very well in high school. Went to a private college - Whittier College - graduated and went on to do an MA in Biology at CSU Fullerton. Along the way, I worked so many jobs I did not have time to relax..mostly as a high school math/science tutor At 27 I started working as a HS Science teacher, back to get a teaching credential I went! It's been ten years, I do not live beyond my means or enjoy many luxuries as some of you - but, I have been very happy all these years - yes, always wishing I had more - but I do not thinkt that means I will be a lot happier! I have travelled and during my single years enjoyed many things! I still do! AND, yes I took out student loans and am still paying them - although, as a science teacher, the state is paying for half of my loans as along I am teaching. I received goverment aid, school aid, and applied to countless scholarships to make it through school. I did not get any help from parents as they could not help - Perhaps the hardest thing in college was having roommates that had it all - monthly checks from parents, cars, everything paid for...

OK..enough..just my $0.03 cents!