Skip to main content

Sandy Hook teacher: My Goldendoodle reminds me there is good in the world

By WTOP Staff

Editor’s Note: Laura Feinstein is a teacher from Sandy Hook Elementary School and sister-in-law of WTOP anchor Debbie Feinstein.

Laura Feinstein, special to wtop.com

NEWTOWN, Conn. – On Dec. 14, 2012, evil bullied its way into the corridors of Sandy Hook Elementary School, forever changing who I am.

An entire school community and town was devastated by the horrific events that took place in a matter of minutes on that Friday morning in December. It takes every ounce of strength not to dwell on the evil that visited that day, but instead to focus on the outpouring of love, support and kindness that has come in from all over the world in response to this event. One act of kindness in particular worked its way into my heart.

On Jan. 4 I received an email that had been forwarded to the school, saying that a breeder in Texas had a litter of nine Goldendoodles that were born on Dec. 14, and she wanted to give the pups to Sandy Hook staff, families, victims’ families, first responders or anyone in the community affected by the tragedy who might find some comfort in taking on a pup.

I knew this would be the perfect therapy for my family and me, so I responded. After speaking with the breeder I just knew this was going to be a new beginning for my family. Photos of these newborn Doodles were sent via email, and we picked out and named our pup. My family chose a male pup and named him Zeus (Protector and Ruler of the Heavens).

Weekly pictures and video were sent, and we received narratives on his development. Those of us on staff who had agreed to take pups were often found huddled during our lunch period sharing photos, a temporary distraction from the struggles we faced adjusting to our new location and our new lives. Whenever I was having a bad moment, I found myself going to the camera roll on my iPhone to sneak a peek at Zeus, who was the positive association I used to overshadow negative thoughts.

He grew cuter by the weeks, and we were all counting the days until arrival. On Feb. 16, the pups were flown into a local airport and arrived at 9 weeks of age. The reception in the hangar was emotionally overwhelming. It was simply beautiful to see smiling faces and tears of joy.

I have to say when Zeus was handed to me I smiled like I hadn’t smiled in more than two months. His puppy breath and warm little body all snuggled up to you puts you in instant relaxation mode.

See Zeus play with Fernando, Laura Feinstein’s black Labrador, below:

Of course, a new pup is a big responsibility as well, since they do require lots of patience and a great deal of attention. My college-age daughter has taken on the responsibility of raising Zeus. I am enjoying this new common thread Zeus has woven into our relationship. We are constantly sharing texts, photos and Zeus stories.

Zeus has been with our family for just over two weeks now and has been the little bundle of love that reminds me that there is good in the world. We will never forget what happened on Dec. 14, but a very special person, who had a team of others to support her efforts, did a kind and generous thing for a community of people who were in tremendous pain. I will be forever grateful for that.

We at Sandy Hook school continue to move forward and draw great strength from each other and from those who have reached out to us.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote