Inspired by the dossier Financial Access to Education: What are the Conditions for Student Success?, cartoonist Alexandra Dion-Fortin conceived the stories of two students in a precarious financial situation.

Simon’s and Carmen’s fictional stories highlight the socio-economic conditions often experienced by post-secondary students. They remind us that behind every student there can be life stories that hinder access, perseverance and success in their academic endeavors.

The goal of these comic strips is to raise awareness among college and university personnel about the realities experienced by students outside the walls of academic institutions.

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Several socio-economic conditions must be met to support accessibility to college and university education. In addition to government financial assistance programs, students need to have access to affordable housing and food security in order to be able to pursue post-secondary studies.

The Québec government’s redistributive loans and bursaries program is a key factor in increasing access to higher education and reducing financial insecurity among students. However, the affordable housing crisis exacerbates students’ financial insecurity and is a barrier to pursuing studies. The stress and psychological distress caused by food insecurity also reduce students’ chances of success.

While having a part-time job in one’s field of study can help students commit to their studies, it can also become a source of stress, reducing the time available for studying as work hours increase.

Consult our dossier on financial access to education

Please note that this comic strip is downloadable and usable under the terms of the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license.