Classification Essay
Angela Cronan

The Joys of Family

Oh no! The holidays are coming! Just thinking about shopping, traffic, and dealing with Christmas cards may make some people try to avoid the hassle of family get-togethers. Hopefully, there are a variety of characters that arrive for the holidays to share company and a cup of hot cocoa. Some might secretly wish that others in the family had something much more important to do than show their faces during what would be labeled as a “'jolly” season. Three types of personalities that can be found at family get-togethers are the know-it-all, the nurturer, and the family clown.

The first character, the know-it-all, forces other relatives' eyes to roll at the sight of this individual walking through the front door. There is nothing this person does not know about. Parenting? No problem! Even if childless, he or she will give instructions, loudly, to Mom in the corner wrestling with her tantrum-throwing toddler. Negative body language, such as turned backs and eye avoidance, will not stop this person from introducing new information to a conversation already in progress. Unfortunately, there is always one family member left alone in the room with the know-it-all to suffer listening through gruesome surgery details that he or she once suffered too.

The second type of personality, the nurturer, can be found in all families. This person can be a male or female. The entire family can count on the nurturer to phone numerous times beforehand to PLEAD that everyone attend the event. This person brings most of the food and usually hosts the holiday parties. Expect the nurturer to invite rivaling family members to sit together and continuously tell jokes in order to break the ice. He or she is also known to insist that everyone take home some leftover food. Even if told, "No, thanks," the nurturer will follow a departing family down to the car carrying Ziploc bags filled with goodies.

The third type of personality, the family clown, can always be counted on to exceed expectations for livening up the crowd. Look outside the frosted window to see him or her run off in the distance wearing next to nothing to make snow angels, while hearing echoes of "Let It Snow" ricochet off the neighbor’s patio walls. Not a single photo of this person exists without olives or other various food items in the nose, ears, and opened mouth. Even brothers and sisters of the family clown admit seeing new antics daily. Kids love to hang out with the family clown who, regardless of age, is more than willing to try skateboarding down the steep driveway.

Some families are blessed to have many or none of the three personalities described: the know-it-all, the nurturer, and the family clown. Memories made from the last Christmas will make family members either anticipate a short visit, or wish it could last forever. Hopefully, all of the different personalities gathered in one house at the next holiday season bring sheer joy--the true definition of family. Season's Greetings!

Reprinted with author’s permission.

Classification Essay
Nicole Whitaker

A Helping Hand for College

Approximately 60% of all students enrolled in higher education receive some type of financial assistance. Financial aid is provided to students for many reasons. The primary reason is to increase the accessibility for families that are unable to afford the full cost of higher education. Scholarships, loans, and federal work studies are categories of financial aid given to help students further their education.

A scholarship is a financial award given to students in recognition of achievement, such as academics or athletics. Other scholarships are awarded to minorities and women to increase their access to higher education. In many cases, the qualifications for a scholarship include financial need as well. A scholarship does not require repayment. Most scholarships are given to students who attend business schools, technical and vocational schools, nursing schools and 2-year colleges.

A loan is an award offered by various government and private agencies. The interest rates are lower than those of regular bank loans, and in most cases interest is not charged while a student is enrolled in college; repayment is also extended over a long period of time. There are loans for students and parents. Student loans are the most common form of financial assistance to students. They are available for both undergraduate and graduate studies. They are issued by commercial banks and state student loan authorities at an interest rate considerably lower than the current market level and guaranteed by the federal government. The loan must be repaid within a ten-year period beginning six months after the student’s graduation.

Federal work study is another type of student financial aid. It is a part-time job co- financed by the government and a college to allow students to earn money to help pay educational expenses. The program encourages community service work and work related to a student’s course of study. The salary will be at least minimum wage, but it may be higher, depending on the type of work and skills required. The total federal work study awarded depends on when a student applies, the level of need, and the funding level of a college. An undergraduate student is paid by the hour. A graduate student may be paid by the hour or receive a salary. No federal work study student is paid by commission or fee. Working on campus usually means working for the school. Off-campus employers will usually be private nonprofit organizations or public agencies, and the work performed must be in the public interest. A student is limited as to the number of hours he can work. The amount a student can earn cannot exceed the total federal work study award.

Many students look at the tuition of a college and make assumptions about final cost. Students should apply to the schools that best fit their academic needs, make an application for financial aid, and find out what types of assistance are available. Then, and only then, should a student make a final decision based on all the facts.

Reprinted with author’s permission.