Help Myesha Stay at Howard University

My name is Myesha Henderson, and I am a rising sophomore at Howard University from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The road to my second year of college has been an extremely arduous one, full of emotional struggle and financial barriers. Between working part time with 18 credit hours and handling my mental illness, the previous semester in itself was one of the most difficult 5 months of my life, nearly crushing me. But that setback has brought me many realizations. One realization is that through my experiences and learned life lessons, I'd like to help those in a similar situation find peace and growth. Through focusing my Music Major in Jazz Music Therapy, I intend on creating a space of understanding within the context of music for children battling mental and physical illnesses. They deserve a knowledgeable and equally passionate Therapist. They deserve to a space to gain interpersonal and cognitive skills with a mentor who is well-versed in her field. Mentally and physically disabled youth deserve to be inspired to inspire, to teach and to prosper. I would love to be that mentor but I too need support to continue on that path.

Here is my story. I am the youngest of my mother's four children, three girls and one boy. With her limited resources, she did the best she could to provide for us. Unfortunately, that couldn't exactly protect us from all the unforseen complications that come with being a single mother. Through poverty, homelessness, physical and sexual abuse, my family battled to stay together against the odds. In 2010, I was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. This year, I was also diagnosed with Dissociative Disorder which is a disorder that disrupts my perception of reality after my second suicide attempt. As of today, my relationship with my family is still tentatively being mended, with the exception of my mother who I haven't spoken with in months. Needless to say, it has been incredibly difficult to support myself throughout this past semster. When I have complications, I have a very limited support system to fall back on as opposed to a regular college student. 

Although I have my personal challenges, they have not deterred me from remaining an active leader in my community. This upcoming semester I will begin my role as Fundraising Chair of Howard University's student organization CASCADE (Coalition of Activist Students Celebrating the Acceptance of Diversity and Equality) and am a part of a traveling All-Women Jazz Ensemble that sings for local events, charities and ceremonies in the greater D.C. area. In addition, I make it a priority to stay involved in local community service ventures.

For the forthcoming year, I have a $1,606.50 tuition deficit per semester plus an additional $895 I owe from the previous term. This is without housing and/or a meal plan. This sum of $4,108 is what I need to continue on the path toward the rest of my life.

If you will, please consider this an investment. See it as an investment in education; an investment in peace of mind. Or better yet, an investment in the futures I hope to brighten in my line of work. Any donation you can muster is a donation more that I started out with and anything helps. Thank you so much for reading this and thank you for your consideration.