What decides Independent Status:

For the 2009-2010 award year, the law defines an independent student as one who meets at least one of the following criteria:
* was born before Jan. 1, 1986; * is legally married on the date he or she applies ("legally married" includes applicants who are separated but not divorced); * is working on a master's or doctoral program in the 2009-2010 award year; * is currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces (or is a member of the National Guard or Reserves called up to active federal duty for a purpose other than training); * is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces; * has dependent children who receive more than half of their support from the applicant; * has legal dependents, other than children or a spouse, who live with and receive more than half of their support from the applicant; * had no living parent, was in foster care, or was a dependent/ward of the court since the applicant turned age 13; * is (or was) an emancipated minor as determined by a court in the applicant's state of legal residence; * is (or was) in legal guardianship as determined by a court in the applicant's state of legal residence; * was determined by the applicant's high school or school district homeless liaison as an unaccompanied youth who was homeless at any time on or after July 1, 2008; * was determined by the director of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as an unaccompanied youth who was homeless at any time on or after July 1, 2008; or * was determined by the director of a runaway or homeless youth basic center or transitional living program as an unaccompanied youth who was homeless or was self-supporting and at risk of being homeless at any time on or after July 1, 2008.
A student who meets none of the above criteria is considered dependent and therefore must complete all parental questions on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as provide a parent's signature.
You should contact the financial aid office at your school if you believe that your circumstances warrant a special determination. The school's decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
If you have other questions about financial aid, application procedures, eligibility formulas or other student aid topics, please contact the Federal Student Aid Information Center (FSAIC) at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243) or 319-337-5665 between 8:00 a.m. and midnight EST, Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday. You may also e-mail general questions about financial aid by clicking on the "Contact Us' link at our Web site (www.FederalStudentAid.ed.gov) if you have further questions.

WHERE DO I FIT IN THIS? NOWHERE.

Education in a little place called the United States

This is posted on the White House website under President Obama's Plan for Education:

Guiding Principles:
Providing a high-quality education for all children is critical to America’s economic future. Our nation’s economic competitiveness and the path to the American Dream depend on providing every child with an education that will enable them to succeed in a global economy that is predicated on knowledge and innovation. President Obama is committed to providing every child access to a complete and competitive education, from cradle through career.


Restore America’s Leadership in Higher Education
President Obama is committed to ensuring that America will regain its lost ground and have the highest proportion of students graduating from college in the world by 2020. The President believes that regardless of educational path after high school, all Americans should be prepared to enroll in at least one year of higher education or job training to better prepare our workforce for a 21st century economy.
To accomplish these overarching goals, the President is committed to increasing higher education access and success by restructuring and dramatically expanding college financial aid, while making federal programs simpler, more reliable, and more efficient for students. The President has proposed a plan to address college completion and strengthen the higher education pipeline to ensure that more students succeed and complete their degree. His plan will also invest in community colleges to equip a greater share of young people and adults with high-demand skills and education for emerging industries.


My question:
Why isn't this happening?

Silly misunderstanding running through our minds

You
only know
so much
I
only know
so much
You
have heard nothing
I've said
I
have learned
to listen
to all
the words
even when
I don't
want
to hear
them
You
struggle
with thoughts
feelings
pains
problems
looking to
others
to solve them
I
want to
help
want
to make
it all better
for you
but
I can't
I don't
You
only
make things
WORSE
I
only
know
myself
You
want
something
that's not real
the
person
you made
me up
to be
the
idea
that I
am
special
right
for
you
That's
NOT
true
we
both know
but
You
do not
spare me
the
pity
or
the regret
of
hurting
you
I
try
to
tell
you easily
You
don't
even
believe
what you
say
about me
I
know
we
aren't meant
to be for
each other
You
know
we aren't
meant
to be
together
I
won't change
You
want comfort
I
can't give
You
want love
I
don't have
You
want sex
I
won't give
There's
no
point
to
lie
to
ourselves
anymore
You
are not
who I thought you
were
I
am not who you
want me
to be
I
am okay
with that
You
will be too.