College Financial Aid Reform

I am 21 years old. I work hard, pay my bills as much and as efficiently as possible, and I pay my taxes. I'm also $17,000 in debt because I attempted to go to college on student loans. I'm wondering why I cannot get help from the government for college when I pay them my tax money, follow the laws, and could easily be drafted, only because I'm not 24 years old, haven't served in the military, and i'm smart enough not to get married so early in my life. Why can't I be an idenpendent student at age 18, when I moved out?
I would highly appreciate your help with this, guys. This rule is stupid, and they're cheating us out of help we kids desperately need for the supposed bright future they claim we're going to have.
WHO'S WITH ME?!