Who  is Paige Woods ? 

Four years ago, I received the news that I was accepted into Harvard University's Class of 2016. I will never forget that day because it was not supposed to happen. I wasn't supposed to even believe that a school like Harvard University was a possibility for someone like me: a black, low-income teenager from Winston-Salem, NC who just tried to do her best in school. Had it not been for the support of my mom and family members, mentors, teachers from the International Baccalaureate Program, and supportive programs like Girls Empowered by Math and Science (GEMS) and the Simmons Memorial Foundation (SMF ) , I would not have been prepared enough to matriculate into Harvard. In fact, it was the direct encouragement from my mentor Professor Omari Simmons, who founded the free college access program SMF, that led me to apply to Harvard. His belief that Harvard was an appropriate school for me to apply would ultimately be the catalyst for one of the biggest moments of my life and I am forever grateful to him and my SMF family.

What did I accomplish while at Harvard? 

Graduating with my Bachelors of Arts degree in Social Studies and African and African American Studies with a focus in black community development in contemporary America has fostered my academic interests in creating sustainable change in communities of color.

Throughout my four years, I was actively involved with the Kuumba Singers of Harvard College, the Association of Black Harvard Women, the Black Students Association, the Boston NAACP, the Roxbury Youth Initiative, the Roxbury Youth Initiative Term-Time and the Lambda Upsilon Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. Outside of the of these organizations, I also had the opportunity to give back to the communities that supported me as a hometown recruiter for the Harvard Financial Aid Initiative and a consultant for SMF.


Why Oxford? 

I have had been admitted into the Masters of Science program in the Comparative Social Policy  University of Oxford. I am so excited for this next step in my academic and professional journey and look forward to the opportunity to gain an international perspective on various social and welfare policy approaches that I can then bring back to the States.  



Why am I asking for donations?  

The cost of tuition is £21,703, or $31,502, and being an international student means that financial aid is severely limited. For me, I have not received any financial support from Oxford thus far. Through the Alex G. Booth Traveling Scholarship from Harvard ($11,000), federal loan and $5000 in personal finances, I still need to cover lingering tuition and living costs of around $4000. I will be collecting donations throughout the summer but I need your help to do this because I cannot make this next academic journey alone. Therefore, anything you can give makes a difference. Thank you and feel free to forward this message to anyone who might also support!


Showing my Gratitude! 

I appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to give.  

 Any amount you are able to give no matter how big or small will make a difference and help me achieve my goal.


Learn More about my Journey in these articles I have been featured in!  

Paige Woods and the Simmons Memorial Foundation

Paige Woods and the International Baccalaureate
Programme

Paige Woods in the OTC Beauty Magazine

Paige Woods in the New York Times

Paige Woods in 'I, Too, Am Harvard'

Paige Woods in Forsyth Woman Magazine (p. 28-29)

'How Sweet the Sound' by Paige Woods


All my love,
Paige Woods