Grandma's on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a time to gather with family to eat a plethora of carb-loaded food and to ensure that your crazy aunt knows you loved the Hello Kitty teacup set she bought you the previous year, but maybe she could just send money this year instead. When driving to my grandparents for turkey dinner, each year I prepare myself to be interrogated by my grandma as to why I don’t have a boyfriend. Grandchildren shouldn't have to feel obligated to have a boyfriend/girlfriend simply because “it’s that time of year again.”

Almost as soon as I walk through the kitchen door, my grandma sits me down and begins the interrogation. “Why didn't you bring a boy home this year?” “I’ll set you up. My girlfriend Sally, from my scrabble team, has a son who is captain of the chess team at his school!” This is often times how the conversation is directed. Grandma’s mean well and they only want the best for their grandchildren, but sometimes they can be somewhat overbearing. After telling them that I am simply not interested in a relationship at this point in my life, my grandma recruits my aunts and older cousins to help in the hunt as well. Logging into Facebook, they surround around the computer stalking each boy I am friends with. Little do they realize that I haven’t used Facebook in years; however, they proceed regardless.

Instead of focusing on current relationship statuses, Thanksgiving should be about catching up with family and taking advantage of the ever-so-short period of time given to spend with one another.  I don’t often times mind the pressing questions; however, I’d love to actually sit down and have an in-depth conversation with my grandma once in a while. 

Argumentative Essay Topic: Private Universities

There are many topics in which I am passionate about; however, the outrageous price of private college institutions exceeds all. Not only are they priced at a minimum of $30,000 a year, the government also hardly helps those with families who are still in tact. You'd think that having a dad who worked extremely hard for his masters education and is paid very well would receive something back from the government. Well, most often this is not the case. With three daughters, a wife, and a mother-in-law to support, my dad is unable to pay my college tuition. When applying for FAFSA, I received absolutely nothing since my parents are still married and he has a good job at Chrysler. Since I will never receive any help from the government, my dreams of attending Liberty University became unachievable.

Even though Liberty University is one of the lowest priced, private, Christian universities in the United States, $30,000 per year is simply not obtainable for many. According to CNN, the average price of a private university in the United States is $43, 289. Since many private universities offer scholarships, the average price for the college student to attend said university is $27, 056. The vast majority of that price is room and board. Living off campus in an apartment with friends would be a great deal cheaper; however, private universities are often times very strict and won't let their students live off campus until Junior year or the age of twenty-one. How stupid is that!