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How to Stay Positive When Life Includes a Serious Chronic Illness

By U.S. News & World Report

I remember when I was carefree, and could step outside with a Cheshire-cat smile, worrying about nothing more than when snack time was. After being diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 6, I longed to reclaim that peaceful mindset free of worries, doubts and insecurities.

While it’s difficult to stay positive during a severe illness, it’s amazing how much you can overcome the negativity that infringes upon you in tough times. Here’s what has helped me get by:

Know That Better Moments Are to Come

There was a point when I’d wake up around 20 times a night to use the restroom. I could barely get any sleep. These nights were absolutely dreadful, as I would awake with spasms that would paralyze every part of my body. The pain was unimaginable, but I knew I had to get through it. I clung to the notion that things would get better. They had to. If I could just get through the current situation, I would have less pain. Keep on believing you can conquer the worst moments; better ones await.

Count Your Blessings

Ulcerative colitis has made me resilient; it’s given me the strength I’ll need to fight the other inevitable struggles that will arise in my life. I focus on the small things that I am so fortunate to be able to do now, such as taking simple walks around the neighborhood or going on hikes, since I could do so little just a couple of years ago, before undergoing surgery.

Work to Create Change

When I was experiencing a huge flare-up, I felt alone; I really had no one I could relate to with this illness. I knew this must be the same for the 80,000 other teens in America who are living with Crohn’s and colitis. That’s what inspired me to create change by starting a nonprofit, the Crown’s and Colitis Teen Times. I have become addicted to philanthropy; it brings me a sense of emotional healing. It is not necessary to start something big — maybe just a support group that meets monthly. The opportunities to create support are endless and could start with just joining the local chapter of the organization advocating on behalf of your disease; or if there isn’t one, work to raise awareness via other avenues.

Remember: The Situation Could Be Worse

While it may seem as if the emotional and physical pain curve couldn’t get any higher, people are enduring worse situations. Most likely there are people suffering with your illness in Third World countries without access to the treatments you receive. Not only this, but there are people who don’t know what’s in store for them. My best friend who passed away from bone cancer and Crohn’s disease was always positive. He went through worse ordeals than me, and when I was in pain or couldn’t bear the mental devastation, I thought about his resilience and that I am fortunate to be in my situation. I knew I had the resources to partially get back the life I once had. I am so grateful for the treatment opportunities I have been able to access.

Find Something That Makes You Happy

While this is obvious, it bears repeating: It’s so important to find something that keeps you busy and something you can rely on to make you happy. After coming home from my first surgery, I was certainly depressed. While this severe depression lasted only a short while, my mother convinced me to do something that would take my mind off the situation. For me it was philanthropy and giving back, but for many people it is art or music. Surround yourself with some or many activities that can be an escape from your illness.

Living with a chronic illnesses is definitely not easy, but realizing that changing my attitude could make my situation easier has been so helpful. These are struggles I will cherish as they made me who I am today. The mountains I climb today will lead to the peaks I’ll reach tomorrow.

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How to Stay Positive When Life Includes a Serious Chronic Illness originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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