TOPS Scholarship Program

In fall 2014, I was really excited to start school because it was my senior year at Helen Cox High School. I had been enrolled in the Patrick F. Taylor Opportunity Program for Student (TOPS) for the past four years. TOPS is a scholarship program that guarantees Louisiana students the right to a state-funded college education if they meet all academic requirements. As a child of a single parent home, TOPS was going to give me my chance at a future education and life which would be challenging without it.
From the moment I enrolled at Helen Cox my mother made sure I was taking the TOPS curriculum courses required. Every year, I would meet with my counselor to make sure I was taking all the necessary courses. At senior orientation, I received a copy of my scheduled classes for the year. …show more content…
I had to tell my mom the news. Bracing myself, I told my mother about the absence of the two courses needed for the TOPS Scholarship. She was angry. Trust me you do not want to make my mother angry. My mom had been involved with the school for the past three years. She constantly met with the teacher and the principal involving my grades, class room management, teacher’s ethics, etc. They knew she was a formidable opponent. I was praying that she could find some way to get me out of this mess. She immediately requested an appointment with the counselor and principal to sort out this misunderstanding.
Unfortunately, they gave her one excuse after another such as we will take care of it, it’s being handled, and don’t worry. They even had the audacity to say I should just pursue the Vo-technical TOPS. At this point, my mom was livid because they were trying to belittle my intelligence. You see Vo-technical tops only provides funding for two years at a community college or technical school but not a four-year college, since they didn’t see me as College/University Material they felt this was the best