Pay school tuition
Name: Melinda Barnes, 28
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Profession: Receptionist and debt collector
Her story: "If Congress approves the tax credit, I will apply it to tuition for a master's in teaching/special education so that I can teach special education at inner city schools in Dayton.
Right now, I work as a receptionist at Crate and Barrel and as a debt collector at National City Mortgage so that I can avoid getting a student loan. The extra money from the government would really help, and I'd be grateful for it.
Once I start teaching, I will keep my night job at National City Mortgage because I'll be earning less than I do now. I find it interesting that our teachers are making less than our secretaries.
With the economy as it is, I've been lucky to have jobs that have (so far) survived the crisis, but I worry about that fact that I have no savings or back-up plan should I find myself unemployed." - as told to Lara Moscrip
NEXT: Won't receive one: Retired
Last updated January 26 2009: 2:08 PM ET
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