'I couldn't give up': How I got through college as a homeless student sleeping in my car

It’s impossible to focus on college when you’re homeless, but I signed up for three classes.

Intro to literature studies, creative writing and African-American literature were my classes of choice.

I read Zora Neale Hurston’s “Sweat” as I fell asleep in my car, sweat trickling down my brow. The end of summer was hot and sticky in Georgia, but my car was where I lived.

I wrote poetry between sobs in the school library and watched students line up in the café to buy pizza and burgers. I had no money to buy food.

I still remember that painful smell in the air of hot grease and french fries.

No one knew what I was going through. You couldn’t tell I was homeless by looking at me. I made sure no one saw me take baths in the school sink or eat out of the café trash cans. If anyone saw me, they didn’t say anything.

Are you homeless in college, like me?

I went to college because, growing up, I loved school. It was my haven. I was excited to start college like my friends. When I first became homeless, at 18 years old, going to college kept me off the street.

I was homeless until my junior year. It took me longer than normal to finish, but I received my associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in English. I have the certificates on my wall to prove it.

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As I drive through downtown Phoenix or near my home in Tempe, I see dozens of Arizona State University students walking to and from class.

The fall semester has started, and I wonder whether the students I see are that student like me, normal on the outside but fighting for their life on the inside.

A survey by The Hope Center for College, Community and Justice found that homelessness affected 18% of students attending two-year colleges and 14% of those attending four-year universities.

If you’re out there, these three tips are for you. They helped me.

Tip 1: Make friends

The best friends I made in college were in my Japanese class. Hiroko, Saori, Don, Emily and Ester were my lifesavers.

After class and on the weekends, we’d get together to study or just hang out. Hiroko and Ester would invite us to their homes and cook for us. Sometimes we’d go out to sing karaoke; other nights we’d go have Korean BBQ.

It was very rare when I had money to go out with them, but they paid my way so many times and asked no questions.

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I never told them I was living in my car, but if I didn’t have them, I would not have finished college. They made college fun, and with them, I was able to escape from my situation for a few hours each afternoon.

I felt like a normal college student.

Tip 2: Tell someone, get help

I was too ashamed and proud to seek help. I also didn’t know where to go.

I encourage you to do it. There are programs you can apply to for food and financial assistance.

►The National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth and the National Center for Homeless Education have helplines that provide homeless youth assistance with issues related to college access and success. NAEHCY's hotline is 855-446-2673. Or call NCHE at 800-308-2145.

►ASU's Student Advocacy and Assistance program provides assistance for students experiencing difficulties. Call 602-496-0670.

►Homeless Youth Connection, a nonprofit, provides basic needs, case management and host families.

Go to your college adviser and the financial aid office; let them know what you are going through. You can still qualify for financial aid.

I never spoke up, but I wish I had. That information was never given to me, but it exists.

Tip 3: Never give up

Its cliché, but it’s true. There were many times where I could have just left college and started a life on the street.

I didn’t have a support system pushing me to graduate, didn’t have a dream job that required a college degree. I worked in the mall and was an intern at a newspaper.

As hard as the college experience was at times, from the algebra class I had to take twice, or when campus security officers said I couldn’t sleep in the parking lot anymore, I couldn’t give up.

My goal was to become the first person on my mom’s side of the family to get a college degree.

Through everything that made me homeless, I still wanted to make my family proud.

I wanted to make myself proud.

It was hard, but it wasn't impossible.

Elizabeth Montgomery is a producer for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, where this column originally appeared. Follow her on Twitter: @EMontNews

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: College as a homeless student? Here's how I did it (and you can too)