Oscar Garcia, a senior from South Los Angeles, looks forward to college, seeing it as a chance to escape his environment, but he faces challenges with the FAFSA application process, which has been plagued by errors and delays. Despite efforts from education equity advocates like Lina McCormick-Morin, only 58% of eligible California high school seniors have submitted their FAFSA forms, raising concerns about financial aid access. Students like Stephani Jaramillo and Jose Pablo-Corona express anxiety over the uncertainty of receiving aid, emphasizing its importance for their educational aspirations.