I graduate from California State University this May and am so scared about what is coming next. I am currently surviving thanks to grants and financial aid that help pay for books and rent. I receive food stamps monthly to pay for food, but they run out before the end of each month. I am in debt to pay my tuition, but that is expected with any college career. I have been solely responsible for paying for all of my schooling.
Once I graduate, I will no longer have these finances to rely on. I am currently working a minimum wage job, but only part time since I am a full time student. My current roommates all move back home during the summers, but I don’t have anywhere to go so I will have to find another shared room (I can’t afford a personal room in southern California). As I see work, the cost of transportation will also be a heightened expense (I currently receive a discounted TAP pass as a student).
I have crunched the numbers and even working full time at my job, I will struggle to make ends meet. During this transition, not only will I have to find new housing and prepare for higher transportation expenses, but I will also have to invest in a new wardrobe that will be appropriate for my new role.
I am looking for financial help to find me through this gap period (May-August) while I interview for jobs in my field. I will be graduating with a BA in Sociology and am aiming for a position in Human Resources. However, next semester I am taking a position as a research assistant so I hope that that will be a networking opportunity.
Any help would be greatly appreciated as I transition into my professional life.