Amber's Variable Future
Donation protected
Once upon a time I gained admittance to my first choice grad school. I was excited because it's an Applied Linguistics program at a university that also has programs in Language Revitalization and Indigenous Education. I want to research language acquisition and instruction methods/structures in relation to language revitalization. Trust me when I say that there are NOT a lot of programs out there this perfect for my goals.
One problem, it turns out my GPA was a little too low for funding, which is a problem since US grants aren't transferrable to Canadian schools. However, my advisor is going to bat for me and is trying to see if I can get *something* in addition to my limited student loans (I don't have the credit for Direct PLUS). But it's uncertain. This uncertainty was unexpected as I thought I'd brought my GPA to where it needed to be for full funding. Alas, my GPA conversion to the other system was off so that was not the case (5.76, not 6.5).
I'm currently in the process of trying to figure everything out. There are two possible paths ahead of me and I have to plan for both while being in a difficult position for getting a job. I don't know where I'm going to be in 4 months, not the most attractive candidate. So I'm planning for both eventualities and asking for help to get there.
Plan A: Grad School
If funding comes through and I *can* go, there are things I need.
Passport-USA 145
Unlocked Smartphone 215
Phone Case 15
Bed 170
Mattress 170
Laptop 300
Laptop Bag 35
Total 1050
That's considerably less than the amount up there partially because Plan B needs more money. But it's also to account for any price shifts on the items I priced for this list.
Plan B: Teaching English
If Plan A doesn't come through then Plan B is to go teach English in a country where I can continue to do research in my chosen field. These are the things I think I'll need.
Passport-USA 145
TEFL/TESOL Certification 500
Unlocked Smartphone 215
Phone Case 15
Laptop 300
Laptop Bag 35
Total 1210
I estimated with 10% for GoFundMe since I'm not sure what percentage multiple transaction fees would come to. I also added a little padding for any change in the cost of priced items.
Why do you need these?
I'll list things out in order of priority because that makes sense to my brain. I will also explain pricing with some of them.
->Passport USA 145
I'm pretty sure the passport is self-explanatory so we won't bother with that. I considered fundraising for a passport and passport card ($30 more) but wasn't sure what I'd need a passport card FOR.
->TEFL/TESOL Certification 500:
I want to research language revitalization efforts internationally and with certification I could get work in a number of different countries that have threatened languages. This is actually more like PlanS B-E, because there are a few viable options. The TEFL/TESOL Certification cost was based on pricing out a lot of different online programs and figuring out which were both reputable and actually useful. There are more expensive in-person programs that might be better, but I'm looking at the time frame involved and online is the one I'm more likely to be able to get the funds for.
->Unlocked Smartphone and Phone Case 230:
I have ADD, anxiety, and mild short term memory problems. I've discovered that smartphone apps are really useful for helping me manage them. Having a smartphone might seem a frivolous luxury, but it's cheaper than heaps of medication. I actually need less in the way of meds because of techonological aid! Sadly my credit is crap (ah, the vagaries of youth) so a 2 year contract is not in the cards. Fortunately I found a phone that's from a reliable manufacturer and has enough memory to run all the apps needed. The price keeps fluctuating though, so I padded in my estimate by $30 at time of pricing. The phone case is a wallet case with wrist strap. Why? Because I'm clumsy so this way the phone is protected and I don't have to carry a separate wallet.
->Laptop and Carrying Case 335:
In order to be able to do the research I'm pursuing I'm going to need to be able to be mobile. I have a decent desktop, but my laptop died and wouldn't have had enough memory for what I need anyways. Recordings are undoubtedly going to be neccessary. I have a mic and good quality webcam already, so I'm hoping by getting a slightly nicer laptop I can avoid having to get a camera with mic (which is even more than the laptop, I checked). I priced the laptop and case out to balance affordablility with my needs for memory, mobility, utility, and sturdiness.
->Bed and Mattress 340:
I mean...because I need somewhere to sleep? I can set up my desktop on a floor if I need to and I have shelves for my books. But I need a bed that can support my considerable weight and give me a good night's sleep. Because the brain doesn't work so good on poor quality sleep.
->Padding:
After I added in the GoFundMe fees I rounded up a bit, mostly for the technological needs. The computer in particular since sales come and go all the time and I don't know if the laptops that fit my requirements will be on sale when the time comes. The padding is also in case my first choice in teaching locations doesn't work out and I need an adaptor for the laptop.
In Conclusion...
The thing I've always wanted in life is a job that lets me nerd out and be helpful. I could probably go other routes and make more money, but language revitalization is something near and dear to my heart. My dad's worked with local tribal bands for years helping with revitalization efforts. It's not just a matter of justice for marginalized groups, it's a matter of helping people preserve something beautiful and unique about their culture. Not just preserve, but keep vibrant, alive, and growing.
This is what I want for my life. As soon as I discovered that going to grad school might not happen I immediately started looking at other options that would allow me to pursue what I consider to be very important research. Grad school would give me more tools to do my research, as well as academic networking, but I'm smart and an avid researcher. With or without grad school I will pursue my dream.
All I'm asking for is a little help.
One problem, it turns out my GPA was a little too low for funding, which is a problem since US grants aren't transferrable to Canadian schools. However, my advisor is going to bat for me and is trying to see if I can get *something* in addition to my limited student loans (I don't have the credit for Direct PLUS). But it's uncertain. This uncertainty was unexpected as I thought I'd brought my GPA to where it needed to be for full funding. Alas, my GPA conversion to the other system was off so that was not the case (5.76, not 6.5).
I'm currently in the process of trying to figure everything out. There are two possible paths ahead of me and I have to plan for both while being in a difficult position for getting a job. I don't know where I'm going to be in 4 months, not the most attractive candidate. So I'm planning for both eventualities and asking for help to get there.
Plan A: Grad School
If funding comes through and I *can* go, there are things I need.
Passport-USA 145
Unlocked Smartphone 215
Phone Case 15
Bed 170
Mattress 170
Laptop 300
Laptop Bag 35
Total 1050
That's considerably less than the amount up there partially because Plan B needs more money. But it's also to account for any price shifts on the items I priced for this list.
Plan B: Teaching English
If Plan A doesn't come through then Plan B is to go teach English in a country where I can continue to do research in my chosen field. These are the things I think I'll need.
Passport-USA 145
TEFL/TESOL Certification 500
Unlocked Smartphone 215
Phone Case 15
Laptop 300
Laptop Bag 35
Total 1210
I estimated with 10% for GoFundMe since I'm not sure what percentage multiple transaction fees would come to. I also added a little padding for any change in the cost of priced items.
Why do you need these?
I'll list things out in order of priority because that makes sense to my brain. I will also explain pricing with some of them.
->Passport USA 145
I'm pretty sure the passport is self-explanatory so we won't bother with that. I considered fundraising for a passport and passport card ($30 more) but wasn't sure what I'd need a passport card FOR.
->TEFL/TESOL Certification 500:
I want to research language revitalization efforts internationally and with certification I could get work in a number of different countries that have threatened languages. This is actually more like PlanS B-E, because there are a few viable options. The TEFL/TESOL Certification cost was based on pricing out a lot of different online programs and figuring out which were both reputable and actually useful. There are more expensive in-person programs that might be better, but I'm looking at the time frame involved and online is the one I'm more likely to be able to get the funds for.
->Unlocked Smartphone and Phone Case 230:
I have ADD, anxiety, and mild short term memory problems. I've discovered that smartphone apps are really useful for helping me manage them. Having a smartphone might seem a frivolous luxury, but it's cheaper than heaps of medication. I actually need less in the way of meds because of techonological aid! Sadly my credit is crap (ah, the vagaries of youth) so a 2 year contract is not in the cards. Fortunately I found a phone that's from a reliable manufacturer and has enough memory to run all the apps needed. The price keeps fluctuating though, so I padded in my estimate by $30 at time of pricing. The phone case is a wallet case with wrist strap. Why? Because I'm clumsy so this way the phone is protected and I don't have to carry a separate wallet.
->Laptop and Carrying Case 335:
In order to be able to do the research I'm pursuing I'm going to need to be able to be mobile. I have a decent desktop, but my laptop died and wouldn't have had enough memory for what I need anyways. Recordings are undoubtedly going to be neccessary. I have a mic and good quality webcam already, so I'm hoping by getting a slightly nicer laptop I can avoid having to get a camera with mic (which is even more than the laptop, I checked). I priced the laptop and case out to balance affordablility with my needs for memory, mobility, utility, and sturdiness.
->Bed and Mattress 340:
I mean...because I need somewhere to sleep? I can set up my desktop on a floor if I need to and I have shelves for my books. But I need a bed that can support my considerable weight and give me a good night's sleep. Because the brain doesn't work so good on poor quality sleep.
->Padding:
After I added in the GoFundMe fees I rounded up a bit, mostly for the technological needs. The computer in particular since sales come and go all the time and I don't know if the laptops that fit my requirements will be on sale when the time comes. The padding is also in case my first choice in teaching locations doesn't work out and I need an adaptor for the laptop.
In Conclusion...
The thing I've always wanted in life is a job that lets me nerd out and be helpful. I could probably go other routes and make more money, but language revitalization is something near and dear to my heart. My dad's worked with local tribal bands for years helping with revitalization efforts. It's not just a matter of justice for marginalized groups, it's a matter of helping people preserve something beautiful and unique about their culture. Not just preserve, but keep vibrant, alive, and growing.
This is what I want for my life. As soon as I discovered that going to grad school might not happen I immediately started looking at other options that would allow me to pursue what I consider to be very important research. Grad school would give me more tools to do my research, as well as academic networking, but I'm smart and an avid researcher. With or without grad school I will pursue my dream.
All I'm asking for is a little help.
Organizer and beneficiary
Amber Marie Goss
Organizer
Gig Harbor, WA
Barbara Reinhart
Beneficiary
