Family Matters - Laura Can’t Go to Harvard

From: “Twinkle Toes Faldo”

[@TF-gf3fs]

To make too much to qualify for financial aid but not enough to qualify for a loan. The epitome of a middle class family.

[@Kingofthenet2]

This! It’s hard out here

[@j.rileyindependentproductions]

Hits upper lower-class families too.

[@a.ghostwriter]

Really? They give student loans to everyone...I speak from experience. You can't discharge those and many times they are government-backed.

[@ForeverYoung2708]

That’s freakin crazy…..

[@nassauguy48]

However, as a Black applicant, she likely would have received a generous aid package.

[@ashgat05]

The thing I’ve always loved about this scene was her maturity. She knew she couldn’t go because they couldn’t afford it so instead of actin lik a brat and makin them feel worse, she said she didn’t want to go to protect her parents. She didn’t want them to feel lik failures.

[@christappen140]

we need more laura's here in today world

[@IAmAlmightyGod]

Let's be real Laura wasn't Harvard material anyway.

[@paoerfulone1089]

It ain't that Laura wasn't Harvard material, it's that Harvard wasn't Laura material.

[@Barber747]

But of course. By this point in the series she blossomed into a young adult anyway so of course she's going to be mature about it.

[@menorowland3588]

Aaaaawh ❤❤❤😊 Meno Queens, New York

[@shinekahughes5413]

That was very mature of Laura to do what she did. She didn't want them too feel bad about not being able to pay for Harvard

[@DrMoriole]

. . . Yes and no. It wasn't just about them "not feeling bad." ---->>>> She also realized in that moment that perhaps she wasn't as prepared at age 18 to relocate to another state as she had assumed/imagined. Epiphany! . . . I agree with her decision to go to school locally (University of Chicago, Chicago State, Loyola, etc;) and then attend Harvard Law.

[@sdlock83]

@@DrMoriole Wrong! She really wanted to go to Harvard and only said what she said because she doesn't want to make her parents feel like failures.

[@akekestory493]

@@sdlock83 and they aren't failures they have raised good children who represent our race well. Truth be told a school can just be a title sometimes. They even taught Laura to wait till marriage. They did an excellent job

[@marblegarden8456]

You do all realize that this is fiction, correct? The fantasy ends when the video stops playing…

[@samarmisra4922]

I admire how Eddie dropped out of college to be a cop like his dad and nice how cops dont need college.

[@lano2000]

We need to bring shows like these back on the air. Thankfully, we have these clips on these platforms to remind us of family morals

[@va3svd]

This is unquestionably one of the greatest American cultural productions ever. Its approach to real life with extremely solid values is way beyond anything else at the time.

[@ebupandaful]

I couldn’t agree with you more..

[@kristinesharp6286]

I didn’t like how they treated Steve.

[@kjdnyhmghfvb]

We shouldn't need a tv show to remind us, and since this is not an official channel it could be wiped out at any time

[@macarthurclutch4384]

This is what makes Carl Winslow one of the top five TV dads of all time. He sets a standard for his children and they achieve it and at the same time he accepts personal responsibility(although not his fault) when he is not able to help them progress toward that standard. This guy was awesome!

[@R-L-I]

Well Harvard costs between $55k-60k PER YEAR to attend, not many people CAN afford to go there, props to this show for keeping it real.

[@ted6580]

It’s free for families making less than 85k. For families making 85k-150k, tuition is 0-10% of annual income.

[@merlinshouseoffreereadings4641]

It was for me. I never even tried, because I could never have afforded to go. Broke my heart to be so limited because of finances and not how smart I was.

[@jinakaye]

@@ted6580 No, it isn’t. There are still costs that must be paid-room & board, books, health insurance fees while attending, etc. Not to mention the difference between in-state & out-of-state tuition alone. In 1995, the total cost to attend Harvard, including room & board, was nearly $27,000 a year. The economy was different back then.

[@equivalentexchangeisalie5726]

@@jinakaye I'm afraid to look up how much it is today.

[@paulg6527]

Back then, it was less, about 30K a year. This epsidoe took place in 1997.

[@datsapaddlin4228]

Now that’s called a great child right there. She knew they did what they could for her and she didn’t want them to feel like they failed her.

[@littlesongbird1]

Agreed.

[@JosephDutra]

One thing I love about Richie in the later seasons is how mature he is. He knows that Carl needs to talk about something serious with Harriette and knows to leaves to room.

[@OutdoorsWonder]

😂 you realized this is a comedy show right? everything is scripted and that was he suppose to do

[@Robert-hz9bj]

Laura is a better person than I'd ever be. Despite being understandably heartbroken at having her dream shot down (or at least temporarily deferred), she manages to rein in her emotions so that she can reassure her parents, so they don't have to feel like they failed her.

[@ticketyboo2456]

You do know it's written that way don't you?😂

[@johneaston8314]

@@ticketyboo2456She’s also a made up character I think they got that. But damn you comment had me laughing 😂😂😂

[@heffa3821]

@@johneaston8314 The message flew over both y'all heads it seems. I've known others in this similar position who just lacked empathy and would push all the blame on their parents.. real or fake it shows a side of grace that can be demonstrated even in the most heartbreaking of times.

[@johneaston8314]

@@heffa3821 We understand what the OP intended. We were making light of the fact Laura is not a real person. We also know this could happen to an actual human being. Did you really think the OP or your comment was so intelligent we couldn't follow it or did you just want attention?

[@nikkicortez8679]

To me the part of this scene that gets me is Carl. "You know I've always encouraged Laura to strive for the best. And when she's achieved it...*I* can't afford it." The emphasis and contempt in the "I" is the part...you know it genuinely pains him that he can't afford her dreams 😔 one of the hardest things about being a parent...feeling like you weren't good enough...

[@eekaboo8012]

2:15 One shot, no words, just the music and Kellie's performance. You gotta commend how they allow Laura's emotions to play out in real time. This shot was masterfully done.

[@sdlock83]

The "music" was common in the Miller-Boyett produced sitcoms (Full House, Step by Step, etc.).

[@JulioMartinez-tu9pe]

Yes it was the shot was great

[@funwithanthony6133]

For reals Kellie really sold this scene with her performance

[@robertparker6280]

Right? Totally agreed.

[@jwilliams7554]

I remember this so well. Carl and Harriet made to much for financial assistance but still couldn’t afford Harvard tuition 😢

[@suprmekai5]

It’s Steve Urkels fault

[@pinkfloydfan92]

Happens to a lot of middle class families unfortunately. Make too much for good financial aid, but not enough to pay and not break the bank.

[@vermiciosknid9629]

I always wondered why Laura didn't apply for a scholarship?

[@DrMoriole]

. . . Well, in many regards, this episode is inaccurate. I'm quite certain that had Laura completed the FAFSA and given her parents' annual income(s), she would've qualified for TONS of loans, grants and work study. They made this whole "apply for a loan from the bank" bit simply for the sake of the episode. . . . 90%+ of college/university students receive some form of financial aid. ;-)

[@DrMoriole]

@@pinkfloydfan92 - Trust me; in real life, the Winslows wouldn't have made too much. . . . They were lower middle-class; not upper.

[@traviswhitfield8045]

It’s upsetting how colleges can be so expensive.

[@jedimastayoda112]

Maybe you Democrats, instead of demanding loan forgiveness, should be more focused on putting a cap on tuition. You want to socialize education to force the rest of us to pick up your tab. There's no reason whatsoever why Harvard needs to earn nearly half a million for a four-year degree per student. It's highway robbery, she wanted to be a lawyer, so she'll have to double down again after that for another four years spending nearly a million dollars. But what does that matter to you as long as Democrats wipe your debt right?

[@TEM14411]

college is another form of creating slaves.....debt slaves..note that most of the American dream requires loans...it was done by design.

[@TEM14411]

​@@jedimastayoda112 no one said anything you commented about. you seem triggered. attacking strangers via comment sections isn't healthy. maybe you ought to talk to someone

[@Dime-bz6hc]

@Jedimasta Yoda snowflake

[@00ghostcobra]

It's priced so high to make sure that certain people can never afford to go there.

[@vickiemckay4259]

I remember this episode. This was HEARTBREAKING FOR LAURA.

[@LEGENDPantherJennings]

Ik

[@Michelle-pn9xt]

She should have received a scholarship because she was smart!

[@ebonylady]

Ivy league schools don't reward alot of scholarships because all of their students are excellent. Their tuition is almost $100,000 a year so if the parents can't pay then they may end up at another school.

[@yummylemons172]

Harvard doesn’t give merit scholarships

[@jediskunk67]

@@ebonylady Harvard is in Cambridge, MA. That is 980 miles away from Chicago

[@sdlock83]

@@yummylemons172 That's right. Plus entrance to Harvard and Ivy League schools are all popularity. Just look at that trans kid named Jazz Jennings. The only reason he "got into" Harvard is his parents made him into a KZbin SENSATION by getting him sex change surgery as a child (child abuse).

[@JohnSmith-zw8vp]

You already have to be the very VERY best of the best just to have a chance at a place like that!

[@MarcosIsABaritone]

"I don't want to go to Harvard... Well, it's too far away from the people I care about... I realized my world is right here. I love you, Daddy." Wow. Who cares if it's a tad over-sentimentally written. Such a touching scene.

[@kyndrablankenship1758]

I don't think she'd wanna go anyway if she found out most kids only get in because of their families' influence.

[@arenlarken8647]

@@kyndrablankenship1758 Or cause Asian students are discriminated against so students from other races (especially black who are required the lowest score) are forced in over smarter kids!

[@einsteinprodigy]

So true, good family program. Unlike self entitled kids

[@AnthonyLeachman-sc6es]

​@@einsteinprodigy😏👌🏽 still working in movie 🎦

[@Everyday_Life_with_Jazz]

They sent Eddie to college, who didn't take it seriously, but they could afford to send Laura, who would have taken it seriously

[@thesilvershining]

This scene makes me weep, man. I hate when people hate on Laura… she’s such a good smart kid who deserved good things. She has made mistakes like every other teenager in the world but she always makes it right in the end. She’s very strong willed and lowkey hilarious-it’s easy to see why Steve loves her so much. I love her too ♥️

[@emmanuelcaceres3360]

Psy-kylo-gy is very true what you said but the only thing that Laura needs to change is her attitude towards Steve that's all

[@thatgirlnia1003]

Exactly! I love Laura she really was an inspiration to see on the screen😌

[@Mr.phalange]

She was never a bad character it’s just how she treated Steve

[@loklo101]

And she's beautiful. I can see why Steve Urkel was more in love with her than Myra.

[@OGStarlightKY]

@@Mr.phalange That’s a little redundant because she stood up for Steve on multiple occasions

[@brianachim2670]

Richie and Laura are smarter and more mature than their ages.

[@marcushoward6560]

They are, but children who are properly raised in good, loving homes like this, more often than not, do turn out like that. Unfortunately, the family unit is on the verge of disintegration today.

[@preciousfefe940]

I loved when Carl hugged Laura at the end

[@blugreen123]

"Then I realized my world is right here" gets me every time. 😭

[@brandonallen3808]

Laura Winslow was my first crush. When she started crying I wanted to hold her so bad. She had great parents. Makes a difference in a child's life.

[@anthonyhenderson3625]

Facts it passes me off that people like her that take their education serious and can't even get into the school of their dreams

[@Jbaxter85]

Life don't always turn out like we plan, we make promises & do our best to achieve them. If they don't work out we still have to move forward because life is short.😞😞😞🙏🙏🙏

[@lailabeeba8016]

She was mature beyond her years!

[@Slaiter130]

That and plus, at least you can say you tried.

[@Jbaxter85]

@@Slaiter130 Sometimes that's not enough

[@jamesorsby7553]

I know that's right. Gotta keep on pushin'.

[@Multifacted_Brotha]

Kellie Shanygne Williams is such an underrated actress.... I feel like this scene and the one where she played Nerd Laura were her best scenes on the show.

[@Angie2343]

Agreed

[@jwilliams7554]

Also the episode about the quilt

[@Angie2343]

@@jwilliams7554 I never knew that their ancestor was named Amy Rose.

[@allencollins5674]

She Was A Way Better Actress Than Bernadette Stanis. Bernadette's Stanis's Acting Was Bad On Good Times. I Found Out All The Criticism, That Thelma Was Way Overdramatic & So Damn Whiny. Plus Laura's Storylines Were Better. All Of Thelma Storylines Were Romantic & She Going To School/Being Affected By A School Without Dealing With Racism Nor Discouragement. Even When Laura Joined The Cheerleading Squad, That Acting Material Was Better Than Thelna's Storylines & Laura Being Mistreated, Discouraged & Made Fun Of By The Cheerleading Squad Could've Also Been Racism Too Or Low Key Not Too Hard To See Racism. Thelna Got A Lot Of Criticism For Turning Down That Scholarship To That All Girls College In Detroit, Because A Sorority Wanted To Fill Their Quota & It Wasn't Racism. Thelma Was Accepted At The Allister School For Girls Because Of Her Grades, Not Because She Was Black. Someone Said The Evans's Family Hated Blacks. The Evans's Dealt With Whites Who Liked Blacks, But The Evans's Treated Them Like They Were Crooked Or Racist, Because The Whites Liked Them Too Much Or More Than They Expected. Noone On That Message Board Threads Was Able To Defend The Evans's Family. Oh Yeah, It Was Said That Laura & Myra Were The Hottest Black Women On The Planet. And Kellie Shanygne Williams Is Underrated & Michelle Thomas Was Talented.

[@thesilvershining]

I agree!! She’s a great actress

[@Afroman29]

Poor Laura, I felt really bad for her, having her dream taken away because Harvard is too expensive. Glad she decided to stay close to her family and has loving parents.

[@ladyfire44]

I think Urkel should've helped her out by asking his relatives to help pay for the tuition at Harvard.

[@SimonKnight1023]

@@ladyfire44 he should be a billionaire

[@angelacooper8973]

@@ladyfire44 please Urkels family ran off to Russia.

[@ladyfire44]

His family was rich after all

[@RoseliaMayorga]

​@ladyfire44 yeah but I don't think his family cared about him though which is why he was always at the Winslow's house

[@ladyindaroom]

Carl Winslow was one of the greatest fathers ever! I wanted him to be my father. Harriett was a wonderful mother also❤️

[@deannaroberson1451]

They were one of my favorite tv parents.

[@MissDreSugaPlum]

Isn’t it sad that when it comes to college, Eddie got in through scholarship but wasn’t taking it seriously like usual, but when Laura got accepted to her dream college, she couldn’t go due to financial reasons? And she takes her education seriously. But It was wonderful for her to still achieve her goals regardless of it all. 😊

[@allencollins5674]

Eddie Had To Take It Seriously To Make The Good Grades He Made, He Got An Academic Scholarship, Not A Basketball Scholarship. Eddie Improved In His Senior Year(That's How He Got The Scholarship). Eddie Was Serious About College. Carl & Harriette Didn't Complain About His Grades Until His 3rd Year- The Only Reason Eddie Dropped Out Of College(Eddie Said He Didn't Know What He Wanted To Major In By His 3rd Year In College & That's Why He Got Low Grades His 3rd Year) Was Because The Writers Weren't Ready To Focus On The Winslow's Becoming Rich-Eddie Wanted To Become A Singer, Which He Most Likely Did Years Later, The Writers Weren't Ready To Focus On Eddie Becoming Rich & Famous, Because It's Hard For Sitcoms About Rich Families To Be Successful Without Most Of The Focus Being On The Families Rich Lifestyles & Them Being Too Happy. Laura Did Achieve Her Goals.

[@MissDreSugaPlum]

@@allencollins5674 That is also true. And good point. Oopsie ! Lol !

[@ladyfire44]

That's where you were wrong. Eddie's dreams was always to follow his father's footsteps as a cop. He was just in denial because he had other dreams. One being a professional basketball player, but he rethought his dreams after talking to a former college basketball player's story how his life went downhill after his injury. In the end, Eddie became a good cop like his father.

[@MissDreSugaPlum]

@@ladyfire44 No I know that with Eddie. I just mean with Laura when it comes to college. Cause in the end, everyone even the characters know in life what they want.

[@anthonyhenderson3625]

facts and had more common sense

[@taurus0362]

Awwww. 😢 Laura's so mature for this.

[@robbierice7442]

Kellie Williams put on a great performance everytime she played Laura. Terrific actress

[@anthonyhenderson3625]

Facts I'm mad she didn't get into Harvard cuz she was really smart

[@capitalb2431]

I don’t think she cried because she couldn’t go to Harvard I think she cried because of how hurt her parents were that they couldn’t help her fulfill her dreams in seeing so she realized that she didn’t need Harvard she needed her family

[@BuffyunaTV]

i think she cried for Harvard.

[@capitalb2431]

@@BuffyunaTV ok?

[@adrianwilcox809]

I think it was a little bit of both

[@ladyfire44]

It was a bit of both.

[@darwinbowman8512]

Cause family is what truly matters. Hence the name of the show

[@damionbates6993]

That's why it's called family matter's it's still a most hart felt touching episode

[@raycarter8070]

This scene always touched my heart as a kid. This was one of the most standout episodes. Alot of families go through this with law and graduate school lol!

[@carlissapowell7069]

Why does this scene still make me so emotional 😭 I try my hardest to hold in the tears. I love this show so much.

[@chaunseybillings5381]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@josephroessler7724]

@CarlissaPowell7069 Because you're not afraid to feel for someone else's pain you have decency and a good person with compassion , have a great night!

[@alejandrasanchez1402]

This is easily one of the best scenes of the series, and hands down the best music composed in the series. I know the subject matter and acting causes viewers to get emotional, but I feel like the music takes it over the top and is ultimately what moves us to tears. So much hurt, relief, and love conveyed over the course of the scene in just the music.

[@nickdaman23]

Yeah it is, this music also played on the episode when Harriet and Rachel’s father came

[@HumorousLOL]

This piece also plays during the scene where Rachel and Harriet's father tries to get back into their lives. The composer for this show was amazing.

[@alejandrasanchez1402]

@HumorousLOL I gotta go back and watch that episode again, that one was a tearjerker even when I was a kid 🥺

[@HumorousLOL]

@@alejandrasanchez1402 Especially for people who's father ran out, those episodes were devastating

[@AnAdorableWombat]

Laura is so beautiful!!!! This felt too real. Made me tear up

[@funwithanthony6133]

Kellie and Jaleel deserved a better send-off to the series

[@dee6524]

🥲🌹🙏💕🫂

[@jonathanakerele8006]

This hard-hitting scene with Laura bawling over her parents being unable to afford her tuition to Harvard reminds me of the other tear-jerking episodes of some of the other cast members including Eddie (when the cops arrested him for speeding), Rachel and Harriett (when their father reappeared to make amends for the past), Mother Winslow (when Laura sold the family quilt not realizing how much it meant to her grandmother and had to beg the buyer to renege on the sale), Laura (when Eddie tossed out her childhood doll Emily causing Steve to have to search for it in the Chicago dump knowing how much it meant to her), and Steve (when Laura was mean to him at the store and had a dream that she was a nerd with glasses while Urkel was also wearing glasses but spoke with his Stephan Orquelle voice and blew her off while she sat alone in the snow). These epiphany moments as sad as they were, were also opportunities of maturity and mental development for the characters to change their thinking and behavior in order to mend or strengthen family relationships that had become strained. It would have been nice to see 3J, Judy, and Richie go through moments like that in the series but I don't remember any of those three characters having anything really deeply touching or heartbreaking happen to them in any episodes they were in that really impacted or changed their personalities or the nature of their relationships to other characters in the series. Still, it was one of my favorite shows as a kid and I really enjoyed the Friday night episodes ABC Channel 7 since those were always brand-new. =)

[@jackiebrown6845]

Carl had a tear-jerking episode as well, when he thought he was to blame for the elderly hostage being shot by the convenience store robber. He was so guilt stricken that, at the end of the episode (called "I Should Have Done Something", BTW), he went to the man's grave to apologize and as he broke down crying, the man's widow came along and convinced him that it was not his fault.

[@AceSolomon94]

@@jackiebrown6845 I remember that one. That hit hard. Family Matters was a real good show

[@lakeishamccall7599]

Don't forget the episode when Ritchie didn't think he would see his mon for Christmas

[@ladyfire44]

And 3J because he didn't want to move to another children's home to be away from his friends. Hence, Carl and Harriette adopting him in the end of season 8's 3J's In the House

[@deannaroberson1451]

I remember these episodes. The one when Harriet and Rachel’s long lost father tried to make amends with them was not only tear jerking, but a dark episode.

[@sizedtoaster0278]

Harvard cost 20,000$ room and out of state in 1996. Median Salary of a Family roughly was 40,000$ in 1996.

[@PureAloha78]

This was a great scene. I didn’t particularly care for Laura but this was such an emotional and outstanding performance. That audience clapping was well deserved.

[@tiffanymorgan6562]

Why couldn't Harvard offer Laura a scholarship? She worked so hard and refused to slack off! And now instead of being rewarded for her hard work, her parents are PUNISHED! SMH!

[@Lillyxxxo]

She would have to apply for it Tiffany Morgan. The schools cant just read minds . Most people apply for them not always get them but some do

[@enjoyitbro]

Urkel would probably ruined it with his clumsiness

[@ladyfire44]

She wouldn't be approved. It was revealed that Carl and Harriette make too much money. Had Urkel been there and heard Laura's situation, he could've asked his relatives to help pay for the tuition because of their wealth.

[@pennypenny376]

When you have loving parents who *don't* beat her nor abuse her, that encourage her to be smart, cultivate her undeniable beauty, and treat her like she's precious, then his is the kind of daughter you get-a true gem of a human being.

[@yummylemons172]

Situations like this is why I hated that college admissions scandal: people who don’t earn or deserve to go to good colleges get in because of their money and kids who deserve to go can’t

[@DavidKen878]

What does that have to do with anything? They're two totally different situations. Those kids didn't get in but had the money to go. Laura got in but didn't have the money to go.

[@yummylemons172]

@@DavidKen878 I’m just saying it’s sad that people who deserve to go can’t while some rich people cheat their way into what others work hard to get

[@DavidKen878]

@@yummylemons172 I understand what you're saying but it's not just the rich who cheat their way into things. There's plenty of non-rich people who have cheated their way into college as well. Not to negate what you said but think about all the non-rich, unqualified people who have lied on their resume to get a job and took away an opportunity from a person whose actually qualifed? Whether they were rich or poor. Just saying. It goes both ways.

[@anthonyhenderson3625]

@@yummylemons172 facts

[@anthonyhenderson3625]

@@yummylemons172 facts

[@orlandobabe]

I remember crying with Laura on this scene.

[@kenrickbautista6141]

A sad and touching moment for an otherwise funny episode.

[@rodlaws9653]

when she said "I love you daddy" that touched my spirit

[@Rebmetpes4]

This is.the most emotional I ever seen Laura get!

[@a.h.2667]

Laura was such a good kid.

[@anthonyhenderson3625]

Facts she's a straight A student eventually became cheerleading captain at her high school and cares about others in general

[@cwayzums]

Laura was so sweet about preserving her dad’s pride, but being honest about feeling disappointed would have been better followed by “I’d miss you too much if I went to Harvard anyway.” It’s always good to speak out your feelings no matter how difficult.

[@josenavarro3214]

Even to this day it’s all about money. Big universities should not see potential students as money bags 💰

[@emmanuelcaceres3360]

Right

[@StillTheVoid]

Colleges have always been for-proft. Those who claim they're not, got you fooled. SMH.

[@lennellwaltonboxer]

Harvard is free now. If you can’t afford it but get accepted.

[@OneLoveRSR]

It still amazes me that folks in these comments think Laura was crying over Harvard. I see Kellie using her love of Reggie in that moment which makes me certain that Laura was crying for her daddy. If Kellie was playing "Laura's sad over Harvard" there wouldn't have been such rich, deep, palpable emotion coming from her during her final speech. She was connecting with Laura's love of her father. "I love you, daddy" at the end seals it.

[@Kingofthenet2]

Fr

[@Denise-ob8dk]

Interesting observation. I never thought about it that way.

[@mikekinsella2822]

they would give her a student loan at a rediculous interest rate and have her in debt for the rest of her life.

[@sdlock83]

This is why I like TV shows back in the 80s and 90s. Instead of trying to be POLITICAL (in this case, college tuition issues), it focuses on the characters INTERNALLY, teaching the audience things don't always work out in your favor and how to navigate through your emotions.

[@raycarter8070]

Right, my mom said the same thing.

[@jjstraka1982]

You wanna actually point to a similar sitcom from the last 5 years that dealt with this issue in a way negative you are describing, or are you just happy having the strawman in your head to rage against because you're getting older and can't deal with it??

[@AegisNova]

Roger thinks college tuition issues aren’t political. 🙄

[@funwithanthony6133]

Way before TV,Movies,social media and music wasn't shoving political agendas down ur throats and before the woke Era

[@sdlock83]

@@AegisNova It isn't political. So long as there are stupid people willing to throw cash away to attend these schools. Nothing wrong with starting at a community college and then moving to a public research university.

[@tayonius]

That scares me. I’d always wanna give my daughter everything. 😞

[@dallasoleary187]

Oh to live in a world without financial aid. Laura made the best decision - no loans to pay off after graduation.

[@zyairmama615]

Love family matters this brings back memories when I was a child I used to love this show growing up and I still don't these was the good old days when shows where really good I miss theses days .

[@STORMreviver]

Laura's a G for that

[@anthonyhenderson3625]

Kellie is such a beautiful actress

[@omarcogle1965]

She's a real one

[@sancm8898]

This scene really made me cry cause she really dreamed of going to Harvard but I love how she covered up the fact that she wanna go to school close to home and she really loves her parents she didn’t want them to make them feel guilty cause her parents couldn’t afford it so she decided to stay cause she felt she wasn’t ready to leave home yet.

[@tonkatruck8294]

You dodged a bullet sis that school is hard and stressful asf

[@anthonyhenderson2804]

Hell yeah

[@sailorsister211]

The students loans. Going to school in Illinois, she maybe able to get like a full ride and she would save a lot of money on travel fair. If she foes to school nearby even save on a dorm

[@molly2frodo222]

😂

[@mizzkaykay93]

Right or go to an HBCU can get the same jobs as people who went to Ivy League schools. It’s the individual not always the school.

[@lennellwaltonboxer]

My son is going to Howard and it’s very expensive where Harvard is free for low income.

[@87mrsaba]

As a kid, I was laughing because he couldn’t afford to send his daughter to college. As an adult, I’m crying because he couldn’t afford to send his daughter to college. I cried harder when she took the pressure off her father.

[@deltillis]

I was accepted at Dartmouth and could not go for the same reasons. My parents could not get a loan. It was sad because I worked really hard but everything always works out in the long run. It just wasn't in the cards.

[@LMLification]

Sorry to hear that. I hope you were able to find an equally good alternative, given all all of the hard work you put into your studies. When life happens, people’s respective trajectories can easily change.

[@axelfoley1406]

So sorry. Give us updates. Where are you at now? Clearly, you are a very driven individual. The choice of school isn't the ONLY parameter!

[@robinwagner3293]

Man, this is heartbreaking and unfair. The deserving kids get left out. It comes down to money. Sad.

[@00ghostcobra]

Not getting young people as smart as Laura the best education that you can give them simply because they can't afford it hurts the whole country in the end.

[@Josh-fp2qn]

Little Richie rockin’ haircut like it’s 1985.

[@lamontking87]

Laura was a great character for the show

[@therealariesempresstarotfr4438]

I need this inspiration today thank u for whoever posted this I cried my eyes out

[@khadijahabdullah852]

This is something my daughters would do… wow talk about raising amazing children, who are aware about circumstances… this was interesting ✨

[@jamaciag09]

My Goodness!!! I cry like a baby everytime I see this scene. Such an emotional scene.

[@johnathansmith6059]

As a father it's painful to see your kids like this and you feel helpless

[@thebladethestoneandthearro47]

when he hugs her so tight he moves his arms twice! what a great dad!!!

[@r3claim3r]

Great show! One of the greatest sitcoms of all time!

[@foccha]

I first watched this as a kid and didn’t get why she was so sad and was confused by saying she didn’t want to go. Watching this as an adult, it’s so damn sad and she did the most noble thing.

[@hectorlopez1069]

I think it was good because she doesn't want to be far away from her parents.

[@rhondah.1478]

I love that Laura didn't want her parents to be upset about not being able to send her to Harvard so she pretended that she changed her mind about going. That showed a lot of maturity and love on her part, but she also needs to understand that it's okay to be disappointed and that her parents would not want her to fake her feelings to spare theirs.

[@AnthonyLeachman-sc6es]

😒????

[@SimplyComplicated1222]

This scene made me cry not only because it showed how much this family loved each other but it was a real moment that a lot of families at that time went through. My parents had the same experience trying to get me into private schools for jr. high. I was in gifted classes since the 4th grade and made top grades in all my subjects. I was accepted into all the 4 schools I applied to. We couldn't get a scholarship because my parents made too much but they couldn't afford the tuition. That was a tough blow.

[@jeremymathis5060]

Almost Had Me In Tears🥺

[@baronvon2012]

They don't make good wholesome TV like this anymore :(

[@funwithanthony6133]

Facts so glad I grew up on the classic sitcoms like Family Matters, Fresh Prince, and Full House

[@mariosanchezgumiel7757]

This kind of stuff should be brought more often in today's shows.

[@tosh6219]

Kellie really don’t get enough credit for how great of an actress she was!!

[@Thechimeradragon-xc9tq]

God this scene hits harder now, that I am an adult. Not too long ago, I was Laura. I had to turn down a scholarship to Rutgers because my parents didn't want me moving too far from home. They harassed me every second to give it up and go to a local college, which ended up dropping my major. I wasn't happy and going to a trade school.

[@matthewhill2696]

I feel bad 😔 & sorry 4 them that they couldn’t afford it & Laura should’ve gotten herself a scholarship 4 Harvard.

[@bw9062]

The emotion in this it was so real

[@readysetactioncommentaries]

This show made us cry more than any sitcom. They don’t make them like they used to! Family Matters was truly a once in a generation sitcom! Jaleel made that show with Steve Urkel, but again, this show was made by the amazing actors and actresses that made us laugh and cry.

[@vinmangob8555]

If only kids where really like that . That's class.

[@frickfrack369]

depends how you raise them and if you don’t give them electronics at age 4

[@JJB11]

I know how Laura feels. The reason why she didn't want to Harvard because she wouldn't want to miss her friends (including Steve), her family, and the people who she's care. She decided to go to college in Chicago.

[@einsteinboricua]

I don't think there's another TV Dad like Carl Winslow, which probably explains why this show is among my top shows of all time. Urkel's comedy was often balanced by heartfelt moments like this one, and though they were rare, they made BIG impacts.

[@user-wu1cx1cg6b]

Thats the kind of maturity you want in your children. Its a sign of how well they raised her. That family matters more than anything else. Yes, she cried cause she couldn't go to Harvard,. But it still took a backseat to the love she has for her parents. This is a real picture of so many families in America. You do the best raising your family and sometimes it still isnt enough. We all want our kids to get a fair shot in life. But when its all said and done, LOVE is what holds our families together.

[@Barber747]

Very heartbreaking scene. I definitely felt her the first time I saw this. As much as she was curving Steve a lot, that is irrelevant here.

[@YusufYusuf-ti2rz]

I love FamilyMatters It had good life Lessons And good Core values

[@TheLovelylove]

That damn Kellie,Reginald bond. My favorite moments on the show are when they showcase their relationship. They are so connected and it's easy to see how they can be Father and Daughter. I hope if not this life,the next,Kellie gets her flowers for being one of the BEST Sitcom actors we have had. Talk about make you laugh and cry.

[@funwithanthony6133]

Same and she from DC

[@amy129]

Oh I miss TGIF shows. Was the highlight of my week. ❤️

[@nonameismypreference8542]

Laura was a waaaay better kid than Moesha. (Brandy)

[@butchmagnus6246]

Holy smokes this was beatiful

[@OnionsUnderSonyasEyes]

Harriet is such an underrated TV mom. She was such a nice lady.

[@israeliteking1761]

I cried when I watched this, I miss Family Matters! One Love!

[@AVengefulSoul]

And Ritchie later became Devon Hamilton Winters on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS. 💜

[@leroymaxwellii2747]

This is breaking Laura's heart

[@tigeabenton2174]

Awww man. I know that was hard for her. She didn’t want them to feel bad for not being able to send her. What a great daughter ❤❤❤

[@b.y.o.p.9035]

Forgot about this scene. Back then I didn't understand it too much, but her crying (both times) and then her speech really was moving. This show was one of the best, just for these moments. ❤

[@mizzjacquettaxx6974]

Poor laura. she doesn’t want go Harvard.

[@ladyfire44]

She did want to go, but she realized the financial trouble her parents would've faced with it's high tuition. So, Laura opted to go to another school closer to home and work through it.

[@taurus0362]

I know they saw her in the doorway--

[@Princessofthedrk]

Not me sitting here trying not to sob.

[@justinleokennedy]

This scene is so powerful. Moved me to tears.