Hi!

I'd like to see if I have a case to reduce my student loans or have some fees waived for the following reason -- I currently work two jobs to pay them down but recently realized how silly this could be if I have an actual case:

Starting PA school during the pandemic was an experience I never could have anticipated. My first semester was entirely online, a strange and isolated introduction to a field I was passionate about. But despite the lack of face-to-face interaction, I managed to finish the semester. There was no fee reduction, no acknowledgment of the stress we were all under—just the constant pressure to perform.

Then came the week when everything seemed to crumble. I was informed that I had to relocate within one week, with no real support or explanation. During this same week, I received a notification that I had been listed as a victim in a Title IX investigation. I was shocked—no one had informed me, and I later realized my name had been added without my consent. I knew immediately who was responsible: a classmate who had been trying to be my roommate and had been overly familiar with me, discussing personal details about another student—who happened to be a leader in the class. She seemed threatened by him, and I suspect this was the root of her actions, trying to stir up drama and sabotage him.

The environment in the classroom became toxic. The investigation was supposed to be confidential, yet details were leaked, and rumors spread, adding even more stress to an already difficult situation. As tensions rose, I felt isolated and uncomfortable. I had stood up for the student in question, and it seemed like the situation was being twisted against me. It became clear that the drama in the class was not going to settle down anytime soon.

I chose to decelerate—an option offered to others in similar situations—but it came with its own set of challenges. To qualify for financial aid, I had to retake courses I had already completed, pushing me to the brink of burnout. My personal life also fell apart during my only week off: family drama, the end of my engagement—it felt like everything was falling apart all at once. I returned to the program for a new semester, but I could barely keep my head above water. The emotional toll of everything I had experienced left me feeling deeply stressed, distrustful of those around me, and unsure of my place in the program.

Eventually, I reached a breaking point. I felt like leaving was my only option. The lack of support from staff, combined with the social tension and the feeling that my mental health was deteriorating, made it impossible to move forward. A few years later, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and I realized that symptoms of this condition may have been present all along, affecting my ability to manage stress and my emotional responses to the chaos of graduate school.

Looking back, I see that academic success alone is not enough to make it through a challenging program like this. The experience was emotionally draining and shaped my understanding of how mental health intersects with academic life. It's clear to me now that the pressure of a program like this, without adequate support systems in place, can cause immense harm—not just academically, but emotionally as well.

This wasn’t the normal graduate school experience, and I don’t think it should be anyone’s reality.