The Piano Knows Something I Don't Know

How do I make money ethically?

How do I make money ethically?

I should probably mention that my full ride scholarship to Kale University didn't cover room and board.

Before I left home, my mom offered to pay for at least part of the cost, but I didn't want to rely on her. Mom had already supported me for too long - she didn't need to keep paying for food and a roof over my head when I was living over two thousand miles away from her. It was both illogical and unethical.

However, by October, I was beginning to regret that decision. The money that I had made by mowing lawns in middle and high school covered the first few payments, but that money quickly ran out. As I focused on saving every cent for my room and board, I realized that I couldn't attend football games, buy pizza, or do anything that a normal college student should be able to do. I had two choices: asking my mom for more money or getting a job.

I spent some time considering my dilemma, but in the end, the choice was easy. I couldn't go back and ask Mom to pay for my room and board after I had already told her that I would pay for it myself. I wasn't the type to go back on my promises. I had to find some sort of way to earn enough money to pay for room and board myself.

However, I had no idea where to find a job, and I was still searching when the next Guyliner Club meeting arrived. Just like I had for the previous meeting, I walked to the Pendragon Center and found the other members waiting for me on the second floor. I hadn't put as much effort into my eyeliner that time around, but I still thought that it looked pretty good.

"Hey Ryan," Gerard said, smiling. "It's good to see you."

"It's good to see you too," I said as I sat down between Gerard and Pete.

"How have you all been?" Gerard asked.

"Comparative Politics is killing me," Pete complained.

"Really?" Laura said. "I liked that class."

"You must have had a different professor," Pete said.

"One of my dogs got sick," Frank said.

"That's too bad," Pete said.

"What about you, Ryan?" Gerard asked. "What's new with you?"

"My next room and board payment is coming up," I said. "I have no idea how I'm going to pay for it."

All of the other Guyliner Club members groaned. "I totally get that, Ryan," Frank said. "Room and board is ridiculously expensive here. That's why I moved into the Greek Friendship Society house. It's way cheaper."

"No, you moved into the Greek Friendship Society house because we let you have your dogs," Gerard said.

"That's the other reason," Frank said.

"I'm going to be so in debt when I graduate," Pete said. "It's not my fault that Kale gave me a lousy financial aid package!"

"Welcome to the life of a college student, Ryan," Laura said. "We're all broke."

"I don't know what you guys are complaining about," Gerard said as he sipped his coffee. "Kale isn't that expensive."

"Gerard, you went to a New England private school and your family owns a freaking multinational corporation," Frank said. "You have absolutely no right to say that Kale isn't that expensive."

"Actually, I'm from New Jersey," Gerard said. "That's not in New England."

"My point still stands," Frank said.

Gerard sighed and said, "I'm sorry. I do need to work on checking my privilege."

"That's all I needed to hear," Frank said.