(To the left, Beams working at the Renaissance fair)
There are very few residents at CSULB who can pay the staggering price of over $10,000 to live in the dorms. However, two residents, Mikey Fesser and Ashley Beams are managing to do so, in very different ways.
Beams, a sophomore has learned to earn her own living from an early age.
“I’ve worked odds jobs since I was 12. I’ve worked at the renaissance fair and I also sew costumes and prom dresses. If I wanted something I had to provide it for myself. “
In addition to her sewing jobs, Beams also worked 30 hours a week at Sports Chalet to help pay for her board. Beams says she came to live in the dorms on the false pretense that her father would help her pay, but he didn’t live up to his promise. Now Beams is worried she won’t be able to make her payments.
“I was promised by my dad that he would help pays. It was either dorms or commute. My moms not willing to help, she only pays some part of the tuition. I came here based on false promises form my dad and took that leap of faith and got screwed” Beams said.
Fesser on the other hand, had a stroke of luck both with his life and, paying for the dorms. In 2002, Fesser went to carnival and rode a ride called “The Zipper”. The Zipper contains metal cages that passengers sit in while being pulled by a cable. While Fesser and his brother were about to get out of their cage, the ride started up again, leaving the cage open and with both passengers not constrained by seatbelts. Both Fesser and his brother dropped 10-12 feet. As a result, Fesser won a settlement and receives $17,000 every four years starting on his 18th birthday.
There are not many college students who can say they are truly independent from their parents. Yet, both Fesser and Beams despite their extreme circumstances, now have that bragging right.
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