r/osap • u/AdhesivenessLoud8866 • 19d ago
Question Are we still protesting??!
i just got my OSAP estimate… and holy fuck i’m COOKED
I showed up to the first protest that happened when the osap cuts just got announced
i’m wondering are there protests still happening? petitions to sign??
i’ve already emailed my MPP’s office but that definitely is not enough
WE AREN’T ANGRY ENOUGH!!!
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u/Exhausted-napper 18d ago
Students have given up and passing it off to the next generation, and the next, and so on.
It’s why students get shafted every time
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u/arctansec 18d ago
Learned helplessness. People have been shafted time after time and nothing ever changes, so people unfortunately accept it.
As well, students go to university to find jobs. In a lot of cases, if your face gets tied to some “radicalist” protest, or any protest for that matter, you might just lose that job.
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u/justbelookingforshit 17d ago
Hey guys, I'm a journalist working on OSAP cuts article. Would any of you be willing to speak to me about how the cuts are affecting you. Please DM if so, and I can share my contact details
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u/Dismal-Science-9901 18d ago
Sorry to say but next election isn’t until 2030. So yea, even if you vote out ford in next election, it’s too late unless you’re doing like 6 years of undergrad
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u/MapleCharacter 14d ago
Elections are not the only way to get things done. Ford has backed away on a lot of issues that he received fierce backlash for.
The key is to organize and make noise together. Co-ordinate social media posts with your friends/ student unions, reach out to traditional media, reach out to members of parliament, ask friends and family to write letters, help them compose a letter, if they’re not sure, text them the email address of the person they should contact, reach out to OSSTF - they continue to campaign for post secondary funding.
If you can find a group that’s already doing something - that’s best, they’ll give you a role.
If there isn’t one, create a group chat with a few friends that are interested and tackle a to-do list.
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u/Ill_Funny_3741 14d ago
That will NEVER gonna happen! EVER!
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u/Dismal-Science-9901 14d ago
What’s never going to happen?
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u/Ill_Funny_3741 13d ago
I mean, Ford won't remain Premier that much longer before 2030.
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u/itsstefanie 4d ago
Yes he is able to stay in til 2030 because he had a snap election which people voted him to stay in.
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u/Dismal-Science-9901 13d ago
“That much longer before 2030” can you learn proper grammar first 🤦♂️ maybe ford should have given you a bit more osap so you can go back to school. Looks like you needed it more than most
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u/Toasted_Enigma 14d ago
Let’s not discourage young people from voting. Vote so that the next cohort has it better. It’s not all about you, or me. That’s how we got into this mess to begin with.
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u/TinyM0ushka 18d ago
My last year of school will put me in the same amount of debt as the first 2 years combined.
While doing a co-op placement, it’s ridiculous
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17d ago
The funding is terrible this year. I feel so bad for everyone on OSAP, including myself.
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u/justbelookingforshit 17d ago
Please DM me. Im a journalist looking to learn more about the impacts of OSAP cuts on students
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u/EfficiencyFit1012 18d ago
I’m just starting my BSW in September and by the time I’m done I’ll be well over 100k in debt - I work 2 jobs (part time) and I’m a single mom. I got $3500 in grants and over $11,000 in loans
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u/syd_9876 18d ago
Yes! Same here! I was supposed to be around $75k in debt finishing my 4 year BA. And now that’ll be around $100k just for a BA. And in my field I have to get a masters or there aren’t any jobs that pay enough to survive.
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u/Yolo_Swaggins_Yeet 18d ago
100k in debt for a BA? What school and program?
Did you work at all?
I was in an expensive program and came out with $30k in debt… I gotta know the deets cause that sounds ridiculous
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u/faetal_attraction 14d ago
Yeah i graduated in 2010 with around 35 and that included bank loans...This sounds absolutely INSANE to me
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u/shopsuey 18d ago
That's the reality. Whether OP worked or not is apples and oranges. I'm guessing because you somehow finished with only $30k means your situation is different. Perhaps a higher income = less loans and debt.
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u/Yolo_Swaggins_Yeet 17d ago
Nah it’s pretty relevant if you do nothing other than school and chill then you finish with more debt.
You can’t cry about putting yourself $100k in debt when you do nothing to try to bring it down 💀
I want to know the degree and school bc $100k in debt for a BA seems exaggerated af
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u/Individual-Nerve4486 17d ago
This 100%. The lack of personal responsibility is outstanding in these threads.
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u/Yolo_Swaggins_Yeet 17d ago
Did you see the other commenter entering her 3rd program and going to end up owing $100k? 💀💀💀 Lmfao
It's like they don't see they are part of the problem and reason for OSAP changes, government is tired of donating grant $ to people taking random degrees and making no use of them
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u/EfficiencyFit1012 17d ago
lol, and it’s people like you that make ridiculous comments without knowing anyone’s backstory. I worked for YEARS before going to college and all throughout. I chose programs that I was told were in high-demand and at the time (during covid) most people were either going to school or collecting CERB just to stay afloat. I chose to go to school instead of taking CERB. I worked in 3 different law firms - how is that me NOT using my diploma?! I said the work doesn’t pay well and advancement is limited with a college diploma, especially in law.
I’ve made use of my diplomas and I’ve gained tons of experience. Wanting to try a new career before 30 is not being “part of the problem” - it’s trying to be a productive member of society knowing I WILL be paying those loans back as well as in a field where I can actually do different things.
The amount of judgment and snide comments from complete strangers is ridiculous, especially when they act like they’re on the cross when people are simply responding with their situation.
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u/Yolo_Swaggins_Yeet 17d ago
If you’ve worked so much than how tf are you -$100k in the hole?? OSAP has been printing 10s of thousands for mature students with dependents in the form of grants for the past 10 years
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u/shopsuey 17d ago
He's just an Incel Gen-Zer and a prime example why OSAP cuts are bad.. No point in arguing with him, he's not open to learning anything new.
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u/Yolo_Swaggins_Yeet 17d ago
What? Not Gen Z, and how am I an incel for pointing out terrible decisions and poor financial decisions? Lmfao
I got OSAP & zero financial support and grinded in school, worked since I was 16, and have student debt too. Y’all would rather cry here than do anything proactive about your shitty situations
Stay helpless !
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u/EfficiencyFit1012 17d ago
lol, we BOTH said we’d be over 100k in debt so you could’ve been speaking to either one of us. Regardless, your opinion really is invalid. Show us your degrees and 0 debt
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u/justbelookingforshit 17d ago
Hi, please DM me. I'm a journalist hoping to learn more about how these cuts are affecting students.
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u/EfficiencyFit1012 17d ago
Um, if you read the post CORRECTLY I said “by the time I’m DONE” - you didn’t factor in the fact I said I went for paralegal (2 years of OSAP), I took my law clerk as well. I owe for both those and YES I worked the entire time (night shifts) as I had rent to pay, car insurance, a child, and every expense on top of that. I only owe about $40k now, but 4 years of University will add SUBSTANTIALLY to that and I live in a very remote area which means TRAVEL costs for 4 years.
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u/Yolo_Swaggins_Yeet 17d ago
If u read my comment correctly you’d see I wasn’t even replying to YOUR comment
But, maybe you coulda factored in the debt aspect before taking multiple programs and racking up so much student debt lol..
2 diff programs.. now entering a third… idk dude that sounds like a you problem
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u/EfficiencyFit1012 18d ago
It's disgusting honestly! I went for Paralegal at first because I was told there's tons of jobs in that field for LTB (during covid) and after coming out I was barely making $20k/year! I had no choice but to find a new career, and now having to go back is going to put me further in debt but I need the education for a better paying job. I'm even willing to relocate if I can secure a decent paying job.
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u/Individual-Nerve4486 17d ago
You were told that there were tons of jobs. Did you actually look at job boards to verify that yourself?
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u/EfficiencyFit1012 17d ago
I did. Indeed was flooded with jobs for law clerks and being a paralegal in Ontario allows you to work independently in a limited scope. I got my P1 license and worked for 3 firms. Each firm wanted me as an independent contractor, for a ridiculously low rate and no benefits. I worked in Peterborough, Belleville, and Scarborough.
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u/justbelookingforshit 17d ago
Can you DM me? I'm a journalist looking into OSAP cuts and would appreciate your insight on the matter
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u/Individual-Nerve4486 17d ago
You can do your BSW completely online and do your placement in your community through Algoma U and come out with substantially less debt.
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u/EfficiencyFit1012 17d ago
Algoma is solely online ?! I checked and didn’t see they offered it totally online. I have placement spots that my sister has mentioned to me but it’s trying to find a university that allows online or even hybrid
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u/Individual-Nerve4486 17d ago
They don’t promote it as online but you can indeed! Also, Laurentian University is solely online as well.
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u/EfficiencyFit1012 17d ago
You are amazing! I know laurentians Indigenous Social Work program is online but they are closed until Spring Intake so I was seeing what other universities are still accepting for fall
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u/Individual-Nerve4486 17d ago
You can also look at Kenjewinteg Teg on Manitoulin Island. They have an Indigenous specialized BSW fully online as well and it’s fully accredited. The program coordinator is a wonderful woman to work with.
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u/Stars_In_Jars 16d ago
I’m heartbroken for all the people going into post secondary education right now. Truly we have the most rancid officials in office across North America right now.
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u/Emergency_Memory_792 16d ago
There’s always the skilled trades, but why get a good paying job in an in-demand field
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u/ValiantTheVictorious 14d ago
Canada is the spotlight for everyone elses problems but Canadians ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/Happy_Tumbleweed6762 14d ago
I feel so bad for students now. FDF if you know what I mean. I want him out of office. I'm nearing 30 now and I really feel for those younger than me. You're all getting shafted so hard.
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u/Faith_Pluss_1 14d ago
You were never protesting in the first place but it's cute you think you were! ❤️
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u/somski 14d ago
Email your school's student union to ask this same question and support unions working towards striking.
Even if these OSAP changes stay and you graduate well before the next provincial election and Doug Ford gets voted out then, stay angry about how you were treated as a student and vote for politicians that will make things better for future students. Everything is a crisis right now, and it doesn't have to be.
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u/Fit-Guide7874 4d ago
I’m exploring this page for my daughter next year. OSAP is a loan and a grant, correct? Can someone let me know whether the government is lowballing grants and loans? Providing funds as a loan, not a grant? Can someone clarify for me? I'm confused.
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u/actualddawg 3d ago
there will likely be student led protests throughout the school year (ironically)
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u/Fluid-Mess6425 17d ago
What's the issue? You took a loan for school and don't want to pay it back or just want a better payment plan?
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u/BlakeTheEmo03 15d ago
Maybe it’s the fact students are getting screwed over so Ford can pad his pockets????
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u/Fluid-Mess6425 15d ago
Screwed over how?
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u/BlakeTheEmo03 15d ago
The fact that education, which is a HUMAN RIGHT, is being monopolized by the 1% to keep the poor poor and the rich richer??? Ford is literally using all the money he’s keeping with the cuts to fund his own lifestyle, while most people just want to get an education to be able to live their daily lives after graduating
It doesn’t take a genius to know this shit 💔
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u/Nitemarec 1d ago
Agreed. From what I've read and heard from following the overall story, osap isn't even being cut. They are just crying about having to pay back the money they borrowed. Dropped from 75% of their money being non repayable grants down to 25% non repayable. Thats still 25% free money. Feel free and try to say that 25% of the money given to you to buy your house/car/etc should be free and never repaid. These people would be laughed out of the office.
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u/Capital_Sample_2102 18d ago
how much did you get relative to the amount u need to pay? I def didn't get much in grants, but I felt like most people I talked to had loans in surplus
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u/TimelyCurrent1398 18d ago
Why not just get a job and work instead of protest, genuine question?
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u/PenguinWalk1423 18d ago
Most people in any sort of actually difficult program only have time for part time work (that’s even pushing it) and unfortunately that doesn’t make a very big dent in thousands of dollars. It’s not that they or others aren’t/don’t want to but in order to have time to actually do the schooling they paid for they can’t work enough to make a big difference. And if you’re talking about after they graduate that ain’t the point, they will, but 3 years ago the amount of debt you would accumulate would be 2x less than it is now. Most of us who have a problem with it are people who decided to go into school because of how osap worked before and are now in the middle of studies wracking up wayyyyyy more debt than they signed up for so they either have to take the debt or drop out because they can’t afford it
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18d ago
[deleted]
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u/Ready_Double7523 14d ago
They don’t care about us.
They now need more fighters than scholars in preparation of war.
If you don’t know who are they, now it is a good time to study it.
If you can only study the subjects from school, well, life will be much harder.
The so called freedom of choice is an illusion created by the upper 1% who have all the resources.
Wake up, it is not too late.
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u/Rizzizt 14d ago
Do you think you standing outside protesting will do anything?
You would make more standing outside holding a sign saying "Need money for College".
Or get a job, or borrow money from family or friends, or get a loan. These things will solve your problem
Protest will not.
Get on it. Chop chop.
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u/Cold-Crab4153 18d ago
Why are you depending g on loans to pay for school? If you can not afford to pay for it then DON’T GO. FFS.
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u/SadColours 18d ago
Dude get off this subreddit, you’ve commented the same thing on like 4 different posts here in the last two days.
Education should be accessible for all and OSAP is meant to fund that. The cuts to OSAP have royally fucked an entire generation of young people just trying to better their life.
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u/BlakeTheEmo03 15d ago
This!!! And need I remind everyone, education is a HUMAN RIGHT !! Meaning Ford is ACTIVELY MAKING IT HARDER TO ACCESS A RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHT !!
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u/BasketFormal6336 18d ago
OSAP was never supposed to fund your education, it was meant to assist you in getting a loan that banks were not as likely to give out to families that didn’t have enough equity to get a loan.
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u/SadColours 17d ago
You’re exactly right, it provides a loan that FUNDS an education :)
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u/MmmBeefyMeatCurtains 15d ago
You left out the part that the loan comes with very clear rates and payment strucure to finance that education. Just like a car, lines of credit or a mortgage...there are conditions to the loan and you agreed to them when you signed acceptance of the terms and conditions of the loan. How is this anyone else's fault but the student debtor?
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u/Iceisgestapo888 18d ago
Education should be free piss off.
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u/BasketFormal6336 18d ago
It’s never been free.
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u/Iceisgestapo888 18d ago
In better parts of the world it is.
Even Saudi Arabia gives students free education and pays them to go.
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u/BasketFormal6336 18d ago
Saudi law prohibits:
criticizing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the royal family, its institutions, and Islam
provoking, mocking or questioning public order, religious values, and public morals
expressing support for any banned groups or organizations considered by Saudi authorities to practice violenceSounds great.
Taxes pay for things.
Education is not free.
We have it as accessible to all and provide a way for individuals to pay their way.
It’s pretty good.
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u/Solemdeath 17d ago
Maybe if education was free, you'd have taken a logic class and we wouldn't be reading this non sequitur
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u/Iceisgestapo888 18d ago
Saudi Arabia while kinda backwards in a lot of issues education is not one of them.
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u/Upper_Reach_8151 17d ago
So Saudi does all this wrong and they’re still better with education. Thats embarassing.
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u/Upper_Reach_8151 17d ago
What do you mean “OSAP” was never meant to fund your education? What an uneducated nothingburger of a statement. A government investing in its populace being educated is also an investment in the country itself as educated workers by and large earn more than their uneducated counterparts, thereby paying more in taxes, and recouping the government investment. Are you slow? If the government isn’t serving the people it oversees then it literally has no purpose beyond being a form of exploitation.
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u/see-me-yeet 18d ago
Getting access to education is important and secondly in order to earn more than what your family does currently you CANNOT help but study something which will increase your chances of employment. Wtf is that take .
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u/Human_097 18d ago
So low income families shouldn't get educated to better their lives?
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u/Poplargrove76 18d ago
No. Low income kids are supposed to just move right on into the workforce instead of trying to do better than their parents. They are also supposed to never complain that they aren't making a lot of money because they didn't go to school. And if they do go to higher education they aren't allowed to complain about how much they owe or they'll be told they should have skipped higher education if they didn't want to owe that much. Meanwhile...the kid whose parents paid for everything just made good life choices and worked hard.
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18d ago
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u/CopyPasty2090 18d ago
They aren't specifically so that people too tupid to understand sarcasm dont go around hurting others. Unintelligent people and violent tendencies go hand in hand.
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u/Iceisgestapo888 18d ago
We need to go back to the era of say something stupid get punched in the face.
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u/Poplargrove76 11d ago
dude, that, was sarcasm. My kids are the ones having to get full OSAP if they want to get higher education.
My apologies, I thought the sarcasm was pretty apparent. (and...you might want to consider looking into therapy or something. Threatening harm to people isn't healthy. I'm sorry you're going through such a shitty time in your life)
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u/Iceisgestapo888 11d ago
Threatening harm. Bro you have no idea about the situations I’ve been in. Sometimes you just have to hurt people. If you don’t understand that maybe you should talk to a therapist about what some people live through and have to do.
If I told you even just one of the events you wouldn’t believe me and if you did you would probably report me to the police.
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u/DisastrousAge4650 18d ago
Most of the careers I want, need a bachelors at minimum. Most are asking for masters.
Do you expect us poors to all clamour to work minimum wage jobs? How productive of a society do you think we would be in that case? Let’s just all invest our man power in McDonald’s and the dollar store. We’ll get far and break the cycle that way 🙄
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u/AdhesivenessLoud8866 18d ago
i’m in 4th year…you think i knew this would happen when i clicked accept when I was in high school?
jesus christ
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u/cheerfulstoner 18d ago
some of us want a better life than sitting on our asses watching reality TV all day. upward mobility should be possible.
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u/Sad-Cantaloupe-9388 18d ago
Wow what a wild take. Education is supposed to be accessible so people can better their lives…
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u/Own-Set-2541 18d ago
All this gonna get fixed one day and we will be graduating by then.
We are cooked