New semester, and things are so paradoxical right now that the only way I can get any sense of this is by ranting my poor audience. Yes, both of you.

Last semester, I actually Failed an Astronomy class due in part to the Pox (chicken variety) and the fact that the teacher cared more about tenure and scientific journals than teaching. I could have re-taken the course with another teacher in order to repair the grade... OR take a class to get me in good standing with the guy in charge of IT and therefore get me a job with the department.

Guess what's more important to me right now. Turns out the guy WANTS to give me the job. However, I don't have Financial Aid, and that's the conduit he has to use in order to pay students. I don't have the aid due to my parent's income, which I'm not getting much of anyhow. So, I gotta move out to get the aid. Moving out takes money, which takes a job, which I can't get because I can't get aid.

Huh? How the hell am I going to become financially independent like this?