When Doug Ford announced changes to post-secondary funding in January, students were angry. Their anger swelled on campuses across Ontario, taking the form of protests and hand-painted posters. But on Wednesday, many students' anger became mixed with mounting fear and anxiety.

After cuts to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) were announced, students knew they were going to receive less funding for school. However, they didn't realize how much less. As the estimates for loans and grants become finalized on OSAP's website, the weight of Ford's cuts is finally sinking in.

Some students report receiving half the funding they did in the past, while others report receiving significantly smaller grants. In some cases, students even allege receiving too little funding to cover both tuition and housing.

Seeing OSAP numbers dwindle means that many students, myself included, have to re-evaluate their plans for the future. As someone who received both grants and loans from OSAP for the first three years of my undergraduate degree, I expected to receive the same funding next year, allowing me to put my savings toward a master's program. But with smaller loans and fewer grants, I'll have to dig into my work savings to cover the cost of living next year, which means I might have to take a year off to save again between my degrees.

Despite my changing plan, I consider myself lucky - there are undoubtedly students who have to reconsider how they can afford the rest of their current degree, let alone their next one.

It's easy to argue that Ontario students are acting entitled - that if they want an education, they should work to pay for it themselves. But the reality is far more nuanced. Even if a student works full-time during the summer and part-time during the school year, the cost of books, tuition, rent, groceries and other amenities could still be insurmountable without lofty savings or government assistance.

Beyond affording the necessities, students should also have the time and money to enjoy themselves. Expecting students to juggle full-time work while pursuing full-time studies is unrealistic, especially when mental health is taken into account. Going to class, studying, writing assignments and working to afford it all leaves little time for students to take care of themselves.

As students share their frustration, those who immediately peg them as lazy or entitled need to take a step back. Students are watching their education become increasingly inaccessible. Their anger - and the fear that accompanies it - is well-warranted.

Students' anger shouldn't be taken as a sign of weakness or laziness, but as a sign of drive. Young people in Ontario clearly want to pursue post-secondary education and, in turn, contribute back to this province's economy. But unexpected changes to funding make that dream difficult.

We're not complaining because we want it easy: we're complaining because, at this rate, some of us can't afford an education at all.

Gabrielle Drolet is a fourth-year English and creative writing student in London, Ontario. She works as a culture editor at the Western Gazette.

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