Kia's Cosmetology School Fund

I've decided to pursue my life-long dream of training to be a cosmetologist. I'll do what it takes to make this my career because I've seen first-hand the profound joy that people experience when they look and feel their best. I've been able to share my love of hairstyling and makeup with my friends, family and fellow performers. I've spent countless hours self-teaching, and I know that in order to really soar, I need formal training and licensing. I know that I have the talent, and I want to provide a better life for my family. In order to accomplish this, I need to raise One Year of Rent. When I graduated high school, I had the unique opportunity to be the first person in my family to attend a four-year university. Despite my life-long dream of going to cosmetology school, I felt an obligation to obtain my collegiate degree. I'm very proud of my work at school, and I know that part of my journey was attending and graduating from UC Berkeley. Now, almost a decade later, I'm taking the initiative to do what it takes to go back and earn my cosmetology license so that I can do what I love every day. I know that it will be near impossible for my dear Mom, my fiancé, and our daughter to bear the cost of my schooling financially, so I am doing everything I can to raise donations for school so that I can make a better life for our family.

Working in the non-profit sector and living in the Bay Area hasn't made me a millionaire, but I've acquired skills and"”most importantly"”a family that I love very much. Scholarships are few and far between for students my age, and federal aid isn't designed to help working adults in my situation. However, I know that my passion, combined with my business acumen, will allow me to flourish as a cosmetologist!

The Details & Expense Breakdown:
My goal is to raise $15,000 to support my education. Here are some numbers to help provide context.
· Rent for 13 months: $13,000.00
· Total tuition cost at College of San Mateo: $5,500
· Gas & vehicle maintenance for 13 months ($150.00 per month): $1,950.00
· Monthly expenses (food, internet, utilities estimated at $500.00) for 13 months: $6,500.00
· Total Estimated Cost: $26,950.00


I've completed the application and all necessary paperwork required to enroll at the College of San Mateo School of Cosmetology in January 2014. Class will take place from 8 am to 5 pm, and I'll be commuting at least 2 hours each day to school. With this full class schedule, the program will take approximately 13 months. At that time I'll be able to present my work for review and earn my license.

During school, I'll be working as an in-home health services provider for my mom, whom many of you may have had the pleasure of meeting over the years. She's a real doll, and sacrificed so much while she raised me all alone. I think I turned out pretty good! Given her physical disabilities I want to be able to make her life as comfortable as I possibly can. Working for her also limits the time I can spend working other jobs in addition to the full-time class schedule.

I sing in a band that I love very much, Ghost & The City. The gents and lovely lady in that group are such bright lights in my life, and I am so grateful that we get to share our music with as many people as we have. We've performed for thousands of people in the Bay Area and even more thanks to the web. If I have to work nights regularly, there's no way that I can continue commuting for regular rehearsals and performances. Music is such a huge part of my heart, I just can't imagine giving it up.

I'm engaged to the most perfect man on the planet for me. Together we are raising his lovely and brilliant daughter. Cosmetology school will enable me to transition into a career where I can spend more time with them and also contribute more financially.

This doesn't leave a lot of extra time to earn enough to cover rent and utilities in one of the most expensive regions in the country. Let alone tuition. And food. The list goes on:

Any donation helps; there is no such thing as a small donation or a small kindness.

With Love,
Kia