Have you visited your financial aid office to see what is available? They will give you the scoop on grants, scholarships, low-interest student loans, and perhaps other options.
Since you mentioned you're Malay, have you tried looking in to scholarships that cater to minorities?
Here is a link to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (United States. I have no idea what options are available to you in other countries):
FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student AidFill it out, have your parents fill it out (unless you're over age 23), and get free money for school.
Are you keeping track of academic expenses, including books, so you can use them to your advantage come tax time?
Have you looked into any scholarships through your employer? Here is a link to the McDonald's USA National Employee Scholarship Program website:
Employee Scholarships
Do you live in dorms or with friends in cheap off-campus housing? Do you have any family members living close to your school that you could room with for a cheaper rate? Have you worked to minimize your expenses, such as riding a bike or walking when possible instead of driving a car, or purchasing less expensive food options (looks like you're eating at work, which would qualify in this category)?
Do any of your professors use books that are available through the school library? Perhaps your professors would be willing to place a copy of each textbook on reserve at the library's circulation desk, so you and other financially-strapped students can check them out for use inside the library.
When you
must purchase a textbook, do you purchase them through the over-priced school bookstore, or through
Amazon.com or other online book stores? Are you able to determine the books required before the semester begins, so you can skim through required texts during breaks between semesters? This often helps me to gain a better perspective on what will be required of me throughout the upcoming semester.
Are you involved with any campus clubs? Good place to make friends and aquaintances that will be helpful later on in life, assuming you're in an honors society or club associated with your field of study.
When you are struggling to pay for school yourself, NEVER LOAN SUBSTANTIAL SUMS OF MONEY TO FRIENDS. Be selfish with your time, your personal space, and your cash flow while you are in school. You require a solid base if you are going to succeed.
Expect to spend 2-4 hours outside of class reading and studying for every one hour you spend in a classroom. If you find you don't require that much time for a given course, spend that extra time on another course. You cannot over-study for difficult courses. Do not over-schedule yourself. Focus on getting 7-9 hours of sleep every night, so when you need to pull an all-nighter, you won't be phased. You may have to pull 3 all-nighters in a row when it comes time for finals or midterms in exceptionally difficult courses. Expect this. Learn to embrace the challenge.
You are pumping so much money into every semester because you're paying for a degree. It's a stupid piece of paper that shows you made it through. You waded through all of the crap and stupidity, you taught yourself everything important, and you made it to the other side. It means a better paying career in a field you enjoy, rather than flipping burgers for the rest of your life.
Find a field that you LOVE, that you want to spend 8 hours every day pursuing for the rest of your life. This will supply you with the drive required to make it thorugh the crappy courses. Spend your summers with internships and volunteer work in the field you want to work in. It will be a break from studying, and it will open doors for your options when you graduate.