I was thrilled when my daughter was accepted to her dream school. I was crushed when weeks later I had to tell her we couldn't afford it.

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I sat anxiously across the table from my 17-year-old daughter, iPhone camera unsteadily in hand, leg shaking, ready to film as she opened the email on her laptop. At the time, I was just as nervous as she was, if not more. We spent more than three years working hard for this, with months spent essay-writing, and weeks of college visits all culminating in this moment. One quick click and then — just like the TikTok I'd seen videos — she jumped out of her chair and screams of excitement and happy dances ensued. She was accepted into Tulane University, her dream school. At the time, I had no idea that I would be the one to quash that dream just weeks later.