Graduation..Out of Options
Hello Everyone,
My name is Charlene "Charla" Brynhurst-Coxon. I am 26 years old. I am an only child raised in New Orleans and refined in Southern Cali. When I was a baby I had to be raised by my grandmother. When she suffered multiple strokes and went into the hospital for 6 months my life fell apart. A vibrant, strong, outspoken fierceness of a woman I watched her gradually lose her ability to move, speak, or even breathe on her own. By the time she passed away she was completely immobile and could only blink.
Now that she was gone I had no one.
Once an honor student I dropped out of high school.
Later, while I was homeless I attended a continuation school and there I eventually earned my diploma in 2006. Stubborn as I was, I tried enrolling in college, but my situation was not stable. I stumbled, failed, and failed again.
Finally, a few years later it seemed I had some stability in my life so I re-enrolled in college and pushed full speed ahead. There have been various near-evictions and other setbacks but I hung in there.
Here I am in the final stretch. My counselor has told me that I can graduate this year...but my financial aid will not cover the last required classes.
I am so close..and not faced with the prospect of giving up after coming so far. I have no way of paying and so have turned to the gofundme community for help as my last resort.
Here is a breakdown of expenses:
Tuition
$5,339.00
Technology Fee
$90.00
Digital Resource Fee
$75.00
Graduation Application Fee: $175
I have spoken to my counselor and she informed me about CLEP..a way to test out of a few of the remaining classes to not have to pay tuition. I have decided to CLEP test out of all of the following classes, but the CLEP test still costs $80 each:
BIOLOGY CLEP $80
CHEMISTRY CLEP $80
COLLEGE MATH CLEP $80
SPANISH CLEP $80
All for a grand total of $6000
I have applied for a scholarship that hopefully will cover $1000
I am an aspiring business owner and am trying with all of my heart and soul to push through this adversity and become a business owner, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and self sufficient like my grandmother was. I want so bad to give to this world, to leave an impact and to inpsire others. It's hard. I'm just starting. I have no traction, only 1 or two customers as of right now.
I have self-taught myself the skills I needed because I couldn't pay to get things done. If you are curious about what kind of entrepreneur I am striving to become you can peek at my work here:
http://rawartists.org/aldora
http://www.myaldora.com/
http://aspire-act-achieve.blogspot.com/
I feel that earning my education can open the doors the rest of the way. I know I can do this...but I have been too stubborn to ask for help. I can't do it on my own anymore. I need your help.
Please enjoy a few cherished photos of me, and my light my grandmother. Without her there would be no me.
Granny: Mary Louise Coxon
in her home office (she was an entrepreneur too!)
and tiny little baby me!
Me enjoying that good old bar-b-q! Nummy! Granny could cook!
Little Me again! Granny made dresses and I was her little model. Looks like I got the stuff! :)
Granny in her prime. ♥
So if my story touches your heart and you would like to reach out...your help is much needed and greatly appreciated.
--Love and Light
---Charla
