Janni's Education Fund
Donation protected
"ME? I'm just a cancer survivor with autism, trying to finally finish my education and become gainfully employed. "
My story - the very highly abridged version - is like this:
I went for most of my life with very severe, undiagnosed learning disabilities (ADHD, Dyslexia, etc...) as well as high functioning autism. I barely made it out of high school with a high D grade point average, BUT... I tried and failed many times at doing the university thing. SO many times I would try to go back to college and each time I would crash and burn. Each time, I became more and more convinced that I was merely just stupid. Each time, I also used up more and more of my lifetime allotment for US Financial Aid. Jump ahead a couple of decades to when I was finally diagnosed... then, armed with some great tools to help me succeed in my educational endeavours, I went back to school once more at a local community college and graduated SUMMA CUM LAUDE with an Associate of Arts degree in Theatre Arts! I wasn't stupid after all! My passion is Shakespeare, so I wanted to go to England and study in the place where Shakespeare lived. In doing my research for programmes of interest, I would find out, too, that university costs are lower in England than in the United States. Additionally, they offer "combination degrees" in the UK, so I could major in Drama and English Literature (my two loves...)
I applied to the University of Greenwich, London, UK after a lot of research, talking to the department head of my selected programme, etc... and was offered an unconditional place on the SECOND YEAR of the BA (Hons) Drama and English Literature course! (Bachelor's Degree programmes in the UK are three years long and they gave me credit for the first year since I had completed my Associates Degree already.)
My roadblocks to making it happen? Well, there are three, actually.
1.) I have hit my lifetime UNDERGRADUATE allotment for available US Financial Aid (in other words, I cannot get any help with funding from the US Government like most students can.)
2.) Because I had kidney cancer in 2009 (thankfully I beat it, and am doing well now) and was uninsured, my medical debt has ruined what was once good credit - and so I cannot take out a private loan for my education either. They all would require a co-signer and I just don't have anyone able to do that for me... and aside from that, it's a HUGE DEAL to ask someone to do it - such an imposition!
3.) Scholarships, you say? Yeah - looked into that, too. Because of my mature age, my chosen major, or where I am studying... there's just nothing for which I am eligible. I've applied for the ones I have found (I can count on one hand the ones I was eligible for) but was unsuccessful. Had I been majoring in Math, Science, Business, Medicine, etc... there would be an ocean of scholarships out there... but there's just no love for the Humanities, I'm afraid. It's sad, too... because the world needs people to teach these subjects, go into research, and do other jobs!
However... I had worked too hard and I had come so far... I had to get past the roadblocks. Miraculously, for the FIRST year of study, with the help of very dear friends who basically donated the funds to see me through my inaugural year - I was able to get myself to England to attend my 2015-2016 year at the University of Greenwich. I am eternally grateful to all who have donated towards making my dream a reality, and to all who have supported me by sharing my link, offering words of advice, prayers, and other supportive measures. I finished my first year with a high 2.1 with regards to grades (for my friends in the states, that's like a very high B) and continue to hold a high 2.1 this year as well.
I am only a couple of months away from completing my degree!
During my time here, I have tried my best to find part-time work which will work around my school schedule (I am only allowed 20 hours per week on a student visa, or 35 hours out of term time - such as summer and holidays,) as well as making sure they are jobs which suit me. (Having autism, that makes some jobs more difficult than others.) I have found FOUR part-time jobs working for the university, during my time here. I'm VERY thankful for them, because they have provided me with some amazing opportunities to build skills and to network. I am currently working 4 days a week in our university library, and I absolutely love it. It's challenging working so much and keeping up with classes and coursework, (especially for someone with my learning difficulties) but somehow I've managed.
So I HAVE been working hard trying to fund this final year of my BA programme, but it has not been enough. That's why I am fundraising.
I feel like such a beggar... but I have to do what I need to in order to finish what I've started. I've come SO far, and I just want to equip myself with the knowledge, credentials, and life experience to be able to support myself after I've finished my educational endeavours.
Once again, thank you to everyone who has helped me and who have been so supportive of me - in SO many ways (moneywise and everything else...) I appreciate you all like you'll probably never know.
Love and Hugs,
Janni
My story - the very highly abridged version - is like this:
I went for most of my life with very severe, undiagnosed learning disabilities (ADHD, Dyslexia, etc...) as well as high functioning autism. I barely made it out of high school with a high D grade point average, BUT... I tried and failed many times at doing the university thing. SO many times I would try to go back to college and each time I would crash and burn. Each time, I became more and more convinced that I was merely just stupid. Each time, I also used up more and more of my lifetime allotment for US Financial Aid. Jump ahead a couple of decades to when I was finally diagnosed... then, armed with some great tools to help me succeed in my educational endeavours, I went back to school once more at a local community college and graduated SUMMA CUM LAUDE with an Associate of Arts degree in Theatre Arts! I wasn't stupid after all! My passion is Shakespeare, so I wanted to go to England and study in the place where Shakespeare lived. In doing my research for programmes of interest, I would find out, too, that university costs are lower in England than in the United States. Additionally, they offer "combination degrees" in the UK, so I could major in Drama and English Literature (my two loves...)
I applied to the University of Greenwich, London, UK after a lot of research, talking to the department head of my selected programme, etc... and was offered an unconditional place on the SECOND YEAR of the BA (Hons) Drama and English Literature course! (Bachelor's Degree programmes in the UK are three years long and they gave me credit for the first year since I had completed my Associates Degree already.)
My roadblocks to making it happen? Well, there are three, actually.
1.) I have hit my lifetime UNDERGRADUATE allotment for available US Financial Aid (in other words, I cannot get any help with funding from the US Government like most students can.)
2.) Because I had kidney cancer in 2009 (thankfully I beat it, and am doing well now) and was uninsured, my medical debt has ruined what was once good credit - and so I cannot take out a private loan for my education either. They all would require a co-signer and I just don't have anyone able to do that for me... and aside from that, it's a HUGE DEAL to ask someone to do it - such an imposition!
3.) Scholarships, you say? Yeah - looked into that, too. Because of my mature age, my chosen major, or where I am studying... there's just nothing for which I am eligible. I've applied for the ones I have found (I can count on one hand the ones I was eligible for) but was unsuccessful. Had I been majoring in Math, Science, Business, Medicine, etc... there would be an ocean of scholarships out there... but there's just no love for the Humanities, I'm afraid. It's sad, too... because the world needs people to teach these subjects, go into research, and do other jobs!
However... I had worked too hard and I had come so far... I had to get past the roadblocks. Miraculously, for the FIRST year of study, with the help of very dear friends who basically donated the funds to see me through my inaugural year - I was able to get myself to England to attend my 2015-2016 year at the University of Greenwich. I am eternally grateful to all who have donated towards making my dream a reality, and to all who have supported me by sharing my link, offering words of advice, prayers, and other supportive measures. I finished my first year with a high 2.1 with regards to grades (for my friends in the states, that's like a very high B) and continue to hold a high 2.1 this year as well.
I am only a couple of months away from completing my degree!
During my time here, I have tried my best to find part-time work which will work around my school schedule (I am only allowed 20 hours per week on a student visa, or 35 hours out of term time - such as summer and holidays,) as well as making sure they are jobs which suit me. (Having autism, that makes some jobs more difficult than others.) I have found FOUR part-time jobs working for the university, during my time here. I'm VERY thankful for them, because they have provided me with some amazing opportunities to build skills and to network. I am currently working 4 days a week in our university library, and I absolutely love it. It's challenging working so much and keeping up with classes and coursework, (especially for someone with my learning difficulties) but somehow I've managed.
So I HAVE been working hard trying to fund this final year of my BA programme, but it has not been enough. That's why I am fundraising.
I feel like such a beggar... but I have to do what I need to in order to finish what I've started. I've come SO far, and I just want to equip myself with the knowledge, credentials, and life experience to be able to support myself after I've finished my educational endeavours.
Once again, thank you to everyone who has helped me and who have been so supportive of me - in SO many ways (moneywise and everything else...) I appreciate you all like you'll probably never know.
Love and Hugs,
Janni
Organizer
Janni Ball
Organizer
