Starting Over

Times are tough for Sandra Axtell and her family, but she's grateful for every minute of it.

Axtell, who's divorced and has two children, graduated from high school 12 years ago and is now going to college. And she has government grants and a work-study program to thank.

"I was 30 years old and didn't have any skills," she says. "I knew I had to get a better education to get a higher-paying job."

At first, Axtell "had no idea" that money was available to pay her family's living expenses while she went to school. Only after other students urged her to see her school's financial aid director did she discover government and private programs designed to help the college-bound, regardless of age.

The transition from working wife to full-time paralegal-assistance student at Tarrant County Junior College (TCJC) hasn't been easy. A Basic Educational Opportunity Grant (BEOG), a Texas State Grant, and a part-time job at TCJC just barely cover rent, food, and utilities for Axtell and her children.

"With $6,000 to last me through this year, I have to budget everything," she says. But Axtell doesn't regret her decision. "My children respect me more, and I'm not afraid to engage in conversations about national issues."

What advice does Axtell have for men and women thinking about returning to or beginning college? "Don't worry about financial problems. It's not easy, but you just have to go ahead, even if you think you can't."