As the government shutdown continues, some Green Country college students are discovering how Washington’s gridlock directly affects their lives. At Tulsa Community College, one government teacher is transforming uncertainty into a real-time lesson about how Congress works and why shutdowns matter. From concerns about FAFSA delays to paused scholarships, students are connecting classroom theory to national reality.
Students Feel the Impact
With Congress still unable to end the shutdown, students across Green Country are starting to ask tough questions. “If they’re on scholarship or having to use, like, FAFSA, that’s based on a government-based grant, that could potentially get paused,” said student Dakota Peterson. For many, it’s the first time they’ve seen how federal decisions reach into their daily lives. Peterson, who was just 13 during the last shutdown, says this experience feels like “a crash course” in how government really functions.
Bringing Washington to the Classroom
At Tulsa Community College, Demetrius Bereolis, who teaches American Federal Government, says the shutdown aligns perfectly with his course syllabus. “It’s unfortunate, but it couldn’t have worked out any better than having it happen the week that I was talking about the activity,” he said. His lectures cover how Congress manages, and sometimes fails to manage, the federal budget, giving students a front-row seat to democracy in action.
Shutdown Sparks Student Curiosity
The ongoing stalemate in Washington has sparked curiosity among students who are now asking real-world questions. Some wonder if national parks will close during their fall break, while others worry about FAFSA and scholarship delays. Bereolis reassures them that for now, the impact is limited. “I think we’re probably early enough in the college application process that it’s not going to cause any profound problems with anyone,” he explained.
Learning Beyond Textbooks
For Bereolis, the shutdown offers a powerful teaching moment. He encourages students to think critically about how the Constitution and federal processes shape their futures. “We strive in our teaching to see how we can make the Constitution a part of their lives, how it affects them, how the American federal government affects them,” he said. His students are learning that government isn’t just something that happens in Washington, it’s something that touches every aspect of American life.
Advice for Students on FAFSA
Bereolis also shared practical advice for students navigating the shutdown. He urges them to submit their FAFSA applications anyway, even if processing slows down. “When federal workers return, you’ll want to be at the top of that stack,” he said. His guidance aims to keep students proactive rather than anxious, reminding them that bureaucratic delays don’t last forever.
A Lesson in Civic Awareness
As Bereolis’s class prepares to study the length of past government shutdowns, including the record 35-day standoff, students like Dakota Peterson are already seeing the bigger picture. For them, this political turmoil has turned into an unexpected civics lesson, one that connects federal policy, education, and personal responsibility. Bereolis says seeing his students engage with the topic gives him hope for the next generation.