Stay In Your Lane: Vol 2

Previously on Stay In Your Lane:

"The way you do things works for you and I RESPECT THAT, but be fully aware that you do NOT have the right to impose your respectability politics on me, this is NOT ABOUT YOU."

This is the SECOND in a series of post about my request for many of you to STAY IN YOUR LANE. Over the last month I have heard many things about how I should and should not be going about handling my business. I have many hats that I now wear, and yes those hats are worn by choice and that is what it will be. One of the hats that I wear is STUDENT at the University of Houston - Downtown, where I study Sociology (Qualitative and Quantitative). I recently found out that, because I have reached a limit to how many classes that I can take as set by university policy. Many of these classes that brought me over the limit were paid for out of pocket through various means and did not use any form of federal financial aid. Because of this limit, I now have to pay OUT OF STATE TUITION and that is a challenge within itself.

Here is the letter I received:

"Dear Ashton,

We have received information from the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board that the total number of undergraduate hours you have attempted is 30 semester credit hours or more beyond the minimum required to complete your stated degree (see page 29 of the 2014-2015 Undergraduate Catalog ). In accordance with state legislation, you will be charged tuition and fees at the out-of-state rate for future semesters. If you have applied to graduate, or have experienced extenuating circumstances (severe health concerns or death in the family) affecting the completion of courses in previous semesters, you may appeal this status by submitting the appeal form with supporting documents by April 10, 2015.

If you have not done so already, please make an appointment with your major's academic advisor as soon as possible to discuss your anticipated graduation date and outstanding course work.

Sincerely,

Registrar's Office

University of Houston-Downtown (UHD)
One Main Street, Suite N330
Houston, TX 77002
713-221-8999 uhdrecords@uhd.edu"

The REASON why I am bringing this up is because, I have heard multiple people bring up the fact that I am not working in the TRADITIONAL sense. It has been brought to my attention that I should get a part time job instead of crowd sourcing money to pay the difference that financial aid will not cover for my tuition costs.

NEWS FLASH: A PART TIME JOB WONT EVEN COME CLOSE TO COVERING THE DIFFERENCE!!! Many of you who are saying this are going to publicly traded colleges online and don't have the tools in your box upon graduation that you claim to have. THINK before you speak about me and note to yourself that a part time job would prolong my tenure in school. Moreover, you are doing this in veiled criticism of my advocacy or activism because I am not buying into the bullshit mantra of RESPECTABILITY POLITICS. Just because I am not sitting on boards that issue money to organizations and then claiming that you have done your part for the Black community does not mean that you are ACTUALLY CREATING CHANGE in our local society. 

Just because I am not in a suit all of the time, or call upon you because of your self serving ego, you know, the one that tells you that you should included and your antiquated two cents should matter. IN fact, it gives me pause that many of you have been in the community doing "WORK" for twenty plus years; does not mean that you are the leader and the end all be all. ALSO, showing up to events and not participating, all the while taking selfies like you actually give a damn, when in fact you are on your phone the entire time instead of ACTUALLY yielding your attention to the issues being addressed or participating. MANY OF YOU do not possess the intestinal fortitude to do the REAL WORK.

I could tell you about all of the side effects of the work that I am doing behind the scenes, but you would find issue with that as well. I will leave you with this simple phrase: STAY IN YOUR LANE.

XOXO 

Ashton P. Woods

P.S. If it is an issue don't donate, let alone worry about me.....