I want to be in school

Hi, I’m Philipa. When I was 16 years old and studying in this country, I was told I could never return to mine. I have been living as an asylee (similar to a refugee) in Louisiana for the past two years. I did not, and still to this day do not know, where my parents or my brothers are. My parents, for our safety, will not tell me. I struggle with mental health issues, and the isolation of living here alone took its toll. In 2016, a few months after I received asylum, I required institutionalization following a suicide attempt. I was in college in Baton Rouge at the time, and having to leave school devastated me. This was the low point of a very low point in my life. However, I have worked hard to recover.


Following my release, I found a guardian to stay with, and a local community college to start receiving credits so that I could matriculate back into my college at LSU in the fall. I believed I was finally about to get my life back on track. However, I ran into another issue: my guardian, with whom my parents entrusted all of the money they could afford to give me, has dishonestly handled the money. My parents asked me what she did with the money when she informed them that she needed more, but I do not know. She also does not even provide food for me, and sometimes I do not know when I will eat again. I began looking for work, and found it as a server at a restaurant. My guardian disapproved and made me quit. This was especially devastating, as I had applied for many jobs, and my age my status as a foreigner in a New Orleans suburb made finding work very difficult. She encouraged me into a sales job, which turned out to be a Ponzi scheme.


Following this realization, I began the search for jobs again, applying to dozens before I got one. I was thrilled because I would be able to offset the cost of my education when I know funds are scarce for them, especially as I had began calculating the cost of school fees and books. Additionally, I had signed a lease in May for an apartment, and my parents could just barely help me pay the monthly rent. This is where my next pitfall happened, and why I need your help:


Because I am a foreigner I do not have credit history (nor do I know anyone who does), I was asked to pay two months upfront, which I did. After paying I was told that I payed for the last two months and not the first two. I panicked, as I had enough money from my job for school fees, but not enough to cover the first month's rent. I was so upset to tell my parents. Before it could be worked out, I received horrible news: my mom called me to tell me that my dad was in a coma as a result of a car accident. I am terrified for my dad, and do not want to ask for the money because of his medical bills. I tried so hard, and I am desperate now. The rent money is due on August 1st. If you can spare any at all, I would be eternally grateful.