Dear Editor,
As a student in her final year of high school, it seems that I
must have the words,
”
gold mine’
”
stamped onto my forehead in thick, bold letters. As a senior,
I’m paying outrageous prices for all the senior necessities needed
to make senior year memorable.
Dear Editor,
As a student in her final year of high school, it seems that I must have the words, “gold mine'” stamped onto my forehead in thick, bold letters. As a senior, I’m paying outrageous prices for all the senior necessities needed to make senior year memorable.
I have coughed up $120 for 35 pictures (32 of them wallet sized) and $90 for the Senior Dinner Dance (accessories not included), $220 for college applications (only four UC applications and I still have to shell out more for other private schools) and only more is to come with graduation attire and invitations, Grad Nite, the Disneyland trip, Senior Prom, etc. However, with all of this in mind, I refuse to pay $2 for an official transcript that I am required to send out per school.
I already had to pay a $15 increase from last year on each one of my UC applications (now $55) and with the money in my pocket dwindling, it makes absolutely no sense why the district is charging us for services it should be offering for free. Is it really that expensive to have two sheets of paper stapled and signed?
Last time I checked, Gilroy High School was a school claiming that they wanted to “develop life long learners” and for everyone to pursue a higher education after high school. If this is so, then why are they adding another fee that contradicts their statements and goals? Don’t you find it hypocritical that they’re willing to add an obstacle that might get in your way of applying for college? What if you needed to send out a transcript the next day and realized you didn’t have $4 on you for the same-day turn around fee? Two dollars here and $4 there can really add up and unless the paper is made of gold, it’s definitely not worth it.
It’s unfair of the school to charge us for information that rightfully belongs to us. And since we can’t exactly get our transcripts somewhere else, we are being forced to either pay for transcripts or don’t pay and not be able to get accepted into college. Transcripts should be free so it won’t be another burden on students as well as it being a message of encouragement on behalf of the Gilroy Unified School District and to prove they truly do want to help us continue a secondary education.
Debra Cheng, Gilroy
