Inflation derails Scranton student's college goals
Sep. 30—The Times-Tribune spoke to more than two dozen people from different walks of life as they confront our changing economy. Their stories will be published each day in print and at thetimes-tribune.com/news/pricedout.SCRANTON — COVID-19 brought Jaznie Belfont back to the United States.
She was born in Nassau County, New York, but her parents, struggling to make ends meet, sent her to live with her maternal grandparents in Colombia when she was a year old. Her mother, Frinny Malo, joined her there a year or two later while her father remained in the United States.
Two years ago, COVID-19 hit while Malo and Belfont were still in Colombia. Fearing the family may never reunite, Belfont's father, Johacin Belfont, brought the mother and daughter back to America on the last plane to leave Colombia before the pandemic shut down the airport in Bogota.
Belfont arrived in her native land knowing hardly any English, despite classes in Colombia.
"My grandparents raised me in Spanish," she said.
From a New York hotel room, they sought a home with reasonable rent. They searched online and Scranton popped up first so they moved here, Belfont, 18, said.
Scranton School District officials saw her grades in Colombia and placed her as a senior. They put her in an English as a second language class. She picked up the language quickly, watching videos and television programs to help her learn, but also relied on Google Translate because school was virtual most of the time.
She graduated from Scranton High School on time and now is a sophomore at the University of Scranton, majoring in political science. Her 3.9 GPA earned her a spot on the school's dean's list last semester.
A scholarship covers most of her tuition, but she works two jobs to pay the rest and for her dorm room and food. She tutors students in Spanish at the university's language center and handles clerical tasks at the school's Center for Service and Social Justice. During the summer, she was a guide for people attending conferences and other events the school hosted.
Inflation has made life harder. Food and other goods are more expensive.
"Everything's more expensive," Belfont said. "I have to work more hours if I want to be able to have everything I need. And now I'm just like saving for studying abroad. That's my next plan."
She wants to study in France and learn French with a goal of becoming a lawyer or a diplomat who works on immigration issues, perhaps for the United Nations or another government agency.
"Sometimes I wonder why I'm doing this if it's so hard, but at the end of the day I know it's not only accomplishing my dream, but also ... my parents' dreams," she said. "And if I get this degree, and then I advanced to the other chapter in my life, then everything will be worth it."
The higher costs of things affect her. She'd like to minor in another subject, but said she can't afford the additional tuition.
"It feels like every dream or project I have is just so expensive to achieve," she said. "It doesn't even matter if I'm good as a student or work here. I won't have enough money to ... accomplish the things I want to in my college life."
Her goal is to help people — no matter the obstacles.
"I feel like my purpose in life is doing something meaningful," she said. "And I think helping people to get into a better place in life, it's the way I could do that. ... And the way they raised me in Colombia, it was you don't have to wait until you are in the best place. You just can't wait. I mean, help with what you already have."
Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.
