It's the middle of a rainy day at San Francisco State University. Junior Akasha Perez has finished her classes. It would be nice to go home, put the feet up and get dry. But for Perez, it's off to work.

"How hard is it taking two jobs and also being a full-time student? "

"It's tough. It's really hard. There's not much sleep involved. "

She works here on campus and also as a waitress. Perez says she had to take on a second job to offset a 32 percent increase in tuition this year, $1,000 more.

"It was a huge jump. And students were very upset. And a lot of people lost their classes because they couldn't afford to pay the increase when it happens so their classes got dropped. "

These are five of her classmates, each with their own tale of hardship, each with a message to state lawmakers.

"I didn't attend school last semester because I wasn't able to afford it, and neither were there classes for me to have a reason to even pay that extra tuition. "

"Has this been tougher for you financially or is it because the courses you want just aren't available? "

"Yes, I think it's a bit of both. You know, certain courses are not available, so, you know, it takes years. It takes longer than expected to graduate. "

"I am sitting on $10,000 in student loans. I'm only in my second year and I come from a low- income family, so they can't help me at all. I mean they can try, but they can't be much help. "

The cuts have also met the elimination of 300 professors and college employees on campus. And a 10 percent pay cut for those lucky enough to still have a job.

Professor Jason Ferreira teaches ethnic studies.

"It means I'm living as a graduate student or undergraduate all over again. You know? I've been working here five years, and basically month to month, you know? Living on my credit cards. You know? To get groceries. "

For Akasha Perez, it has come down to this -- either work two jobs or don't go to school. Leaning on her parents isn't an option. A reality for her and her classmates.

"This is a commuter campus. This is a community of worker -- working students. So it's -- it's been tough. "

And with tuition expected to rise further next year, it's going to get even tougher.

生词汇总：

sit on: to delay dealing with something 延后处理

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