My name is Mandy, and I’m reaching out with urgency and hope. My daughter, Ahnnaiyah, is a freshman in college, and she has worked incredibly hard to get here. Her dream is to study psychology and eventually become a forensic psychologist — a career where she can help others and make a real difference.

Her journey hasn’t been easy. In high school, she was homeschooled for a time due to severe bullying. Even through isolation and struggles to make friends, she persevered, graduated, and did amazing things. She had a few wonderful friends who stood by her, but for the most part, she never felt like she truly belonged.

Now, in college, she’s finally found her place. She was accepted into a sorority, surrounded by supportive peers, and for the first time truly feels like she fits in. She’s thriving academically and socially, and she wants nothing more than to continue her education and keep building this new chapter of her life.

But the financial burden is overwhelming. Her deadline to pay her balance and register for new classes was November 17th, and we simply couldn’t afford it. She currently owes $4,300, and without help, she risks losing the opportunity she’s fought so hard for.

We’ve tried everything. We’ve written appeals to the school, but they were denied. Ahnnaiyah has already taken out student loans, but our credit isn’t strong enough to qualify for personal loans, and we’ve been turned down. She’s applied to dozens of scholarships, pouring her energy into every application, but so far nothing has come through. I’m barely scraping by myself, and her part‑time job barely covers her basic needs. We don’t have anyone to borrow from or cosign, and we’re truly out of options.

As a family, we’ve stretched every dollar, cut back on everything we can, and sacrificed to keep her dream alive. But the truth is, we can’t do this alone anymore. I worry deeply about her mental health if she’s forced to leave school after working so hard to get here. She deserves stability, dignity, and the chance to keep moving forward.

Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us closer to keeping her enrolled. If you don’t feel comfortable donating through GoFundMe, you can donate directly to the University of Maine (UMO) under her name. And if we are blessed to raise more than her current balance, any leftover funds will go directly toward her next and future semesters, ensuring she can continue her education without interruption.

Education isn’t just about books — it’s about belonging, opportunity, and hope. Ahnnaiyah has proven her resilience time and again, and with your support, she can continue her journey and achieve her dream of becoming a forensic psychologist.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing with us. Your kindness means more than words can express, and together, we can make sure her dreams don’t get cut short.