Hard times for a Hard working Student

Following my dreams and goals has been the most important thing, next to my family for the past 3 years. I started my journey towards a higher education the year my step father passed away. I know that he was waiting for the day I found my path towards a better life and is proud of where I am today.

I started my education at Minnesota State College-Southeast Technical in Winona working on my general education credits so I could decide ‘what it was I wanted to be when I grew up’.  It wasn’t too difficult to balance working full-time and going to school full-time when I was attending MSC-ST because I was able to take most of my classes online.  While there, I was able to obtain other important goals such as; earning a 4.0 GPA, becoming President of the local chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (an honor society for two year educational institutions), was an All-State Academic Team member, and was a member of the winning team at a competition through NASA held at their Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena California. I graduated with an Individualized Studies Associates Degree with emphasis in Mathematics and Social Sciences May 9, 2012.

I came to the conclusion that I had to stick with Mathematics for my Bachelor’s degree because it was the one thing I really had a passion and understanding of through my Associates degree.  After searching what I could do with a Mathematics degree I decided to pursue my Bachelors in Mathematics/Statistics hoping to someday get a Doctorate in Biostatistics.  In April I received a letter stating that I was accepted to attend Columbia University school of General Studies in New York City for the duration of my undergraduate degree. Due to the cost of tuition I was unable to accept enrollment although it was my dream school. I did however find a local school with a very good and notable Mathematics department. So I began my next chapter at Winona State University in the fall of this year.

At this point I am in my junior year of my B.S degree in Mathematics/Statistics with a minor in Biology. Due to the demand of my classes I had to go from working four jobs to two. This made a significant cut in my income of which I use to pay bills, tuition, purchase books and other needs. I do not have any time for recreation and that is just fine. Which is why I am here asking YOU for help.  Not only am I coming up short for living expenses but at this time I have no idea how I will afford my textbooks for the upcoming semester starting in January. 

If you can find it in your heart to help me out during this time of need I will be sure to ‘pay it forward’ in the future as I am a full-hearted believer in that concept. From the depth of my heart thank you for your generosity during my hardships.

With Love,

Stacey Prieur