Scout's College Success Fund

To say that our awesome daughter, Scout, had a challenging adolescence is an understatement. She suffered horrible bullying, many times because of standing up for other classmates who were being bullied themselves... after three years of which she found herself in danger of harming herself, so she reached out and got help - was put on medication that messed with her head, got off of that medication, and into counseling... she was in an abusive relationship for a year before telling anyone about the abuse, and when she finally did get courage to come to her guidance counselors - when she told her story, no matter how hard it was, just like she was told she should by her school, the entire school turned against her - even tho he admitted to the abuse. It became so bad that even the heads of the administration agreed that the best recourse was for Scout to leave school ...she was only 16.

A few months later she went about trying to enroll in another school, and began her senior year at an alternative school which was good for about 3 weeks before the old anxieties started back up - and when three weeks after that she slammed her head into a table in the "gym" and had to get stitches, all of her fears about school being a safe place once again blew up. She tried again the following school year, another high school, she had such hope... then the fear crept in, and she'd go to school, but not able to go in the building. She would sit in the park across the street and play her uke and make up songs... and went along like that until winter came.

Then spring came, and she decided no matter how scary, there was a life she wanted and she was going to do everything to make that happen. She created a schedule, stuck to it, took care of herself, cut off relationships that led her away from that goal, signed up for the GED, studied, and took the test. Finally ending her high school journey - and where for years she would balk at the mere mention of college, now she was on all the college sites, talking to her college counselors thru her GED program, reaching out, submitting applications and taking her life to the next level.

Now she's been accepted to he first choice college, a good one, out of the city, but not too far... and she got early acceptance - we had been preparing for a Februrary start date, but now Scout has an opportunity to continue the momentum she has been building for the past year, and we feel it is important to support that. Only problem is we are behind the ball financially - so we decided to reach out.

We know everyone has stuff going on, and do not expect others to take care of our kid... but if you had a few bucks you could spare, i swear it'll go to a great cause.

thanks for your consideration.
much love and gratitude.
The New York Cook's