Sandy's college fund
Donation protected
My name is Sandy Gonzalez. This is my story.
When I was six years old, my biological mother brought me to the United States from Mexico. At the time, I did not understand what was happening. All I knew was that I would finally be able to see her after being separated for so long. For a while, it was just me and my mom and everything seemed perfect. Unfortunately, my time with her was short-lived. She met someone and decided to move back to Mexico with him, but she left me behind. She had brought me to the United States only to abandon me once again. For a long time, I felt as though I had done something wrong, something to deserve being left behind. My six year old heart shattered into pieces. I began to feel like a burden. If I had only been a better daughter, maybe she would have stayed.
After my mom went back to Mexico, my grandmother, Mami Mago, took me under her care. As an immigrant herself, my grandmother knew that without legal residence it would be very difficult for me to accomplish much in this country. She fought to be my legal guardian in order to help me become a permanent resident of the United States.I became a ward of the court until I turned eighteen. Because my biological mother willingly abandoned me in a foreign country when I was only a minor, I was granted permanent residency to the United States by the courts under a special case. At first, I did not realize how important it was to become a legal permanent resident of the United States. I didn't feel like my life had changed. Little did I know that permanent residency would open many doors for me in the future. If my grandmother had not filed to be my legal guardian, if she had not helped me get my permanent residence, I would have not been able to obtain a higher education, something that many people take for granted.
My grandmother has taught me that when something bad happens, I have three choices: I can either let it define me, let it destroy me, or let it strengthen me. Without an education, I will not be able to repay my grandmother for her generosity and support. She has given me the strength to persevere through any obstacle life throws at me.
I am now a sophomore at California Lutheran University. I have a GPA of 3.8 and have made the Deans list. Since I am the first person in my family to attend college, I will do whatever it takes to graduate and make my grandmother proud. It is only because of her that I even get to attend this wonderful university in the first place. I will graduate in 2019, but I also plan to go to graduate school and get a PHD in psychology. My grandmother has been helping me pay for my tuition . I am able to attend CLU because of a scholarship the school gave me, but unfortunately it does not cover my entire tuition. I am currently taking 18 units and working part-time. My grandmother does not make a lot of money, but she works very hard to help me stay in school. I love my grandmother very much and I want to give her a much needed break from stressing out about the next due payment. I created this campaign in order to help raise money to pay for my tuition for next semester, Spring 2017.
In three years, I will be able to apply for Citizenship. I will be able to help my grandmother become a Citizen and repay her for the support she has given me, not just as my grandmother, but as my mother as well. I am a Psychology major and hope to use my degree to be someone else’s support in their time of need. My experiences have influenced my desire to help those in need so that they never have to feel alone in a big world like I did. I want to help change someone’s life for the better and be one of the reasons why someone doesn’t give up.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Anything is appreciated even a share. If I were to win the #GFMScholarship it would cover most of what I need to finish my undergraduate degree. Winning this scholarship would lift a huge weight off my shoulders. I just want to make my grandmother proud. With the help of this scholarship I will be able do just that.
(My Grandmother, Mami Mago on the left, me on the middle, and my best friend Jasmine on the right.)
(Mami Mago one the left, me on the right at my high school graduation)
When I was six years old, my biological mother brought me to the United States from Mexico. At the time, I did not understand what was happening. All I knew was that I would finally be able to see her after being separated for so long. For a while, it was just me and my mom and everything seemed perfect. Unfortunately, my time with her was short-lived. She met someone and decided to move back to Mexico with him, but she left me behind. She had brought me to the United States only to abandon me once again. For a long time, I felt as though I had done something wrong, something to deserve being left behind. My six year old heart shattered into pieces. I began to feel like a burden. If I had only been a better daughter, maybe she would have stayed.
After my mom went back to Mexico, my grandmother, Mami Mago, took me under her care. As an immigrant herself, my grandmother knew that without legal residence it would be very difficult for me to accomplish much in this country. She fought to be my legal guardian in order to help me become a permanent resident of the United States.I became a ward of the court until I turned eighteen. Because my biological mother willingly abandoned me in a foreign country when I was only a minor, I was granted permanent residency to the United States by the courts under a special case. At first, I did not realize how important it was to become a legal permanent resident of the United States. I didn't feel like my life had changed. Little did I know that permanent residency would open many doors for me in the future. If my grandmother had not filed to be my legal guardian, if she had not helped me get my permanent residence, I would have not been able to obtain a higher education, something that many people take for granted.
My grandmother has taught me that when something bad happens, I have three choices: I can either let it define me, let it destroy me, or let it strengthen me. Without an education, I will not be able to repay my grandmother for her generosity and support. She has given me the strength to persevere through any obstacle life throws at me.
I am now a sophomore at California Lutheran University. I have a GPA of 3.8 and have made the Deans list. Since I am the first person in my family to attend college, I will do whatever it takes to graduate and make my grandmother proud. It is only because of her that I even get to attend this wonderful university in the first place. I will graduate in 2019, but I also plan to go to graduate school and get a PHD in psychology. My grandmother has been helping me pay for my tuition . I am able to attend CLU because of a scholarship the school gave me, but unfortunately it does not cover my entire tuition. I am currently taking 18 units and working part-time. My grandmother does not make a lot of money, but she works very hard to help me stay in school. I love my grandmother very much and I want to give her a much needed break from stressing out about the next due payment. I created this campaign in order to help raise money to pay for my tuition for next semester, Spring 2017.
In three years, I will be able to apply for Citizenship. I will be able to help my grandmother become a Citizen and repay her for the support she has given me, not just as my grandmother, but as my mother as well. I am a Psychology major and hope to use my degree to be someone else’s support in their time of need. My experiences have influenced my desire to help those in need so that they never have to feel alone in a big world like I did. I want to help change someone’s life for the better and be one of the reasons why someone doesn’t give up.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Anything is appreciated even a share. If I were to win the #GFMScholarship it would cover most of what I need to finish my undergraduate degree. Winning this scholarship would lift a huge weight off my shoulders. I just want to make my grandmother proud. With the help of this scholarship I will be able do just that.
(My Grandmother, Mami Mago on the left, me on the middle, and my best friend Jasmine on the right.)
(Mami Mago one the left, me on the right at my high school graduation)
Organizer
Sandy Gonzalez
Organizer
Altadena, CA
