Get Alex Back on the Road

My name is Alex, and in a single moment today, everything changed. I was targeted in a stop-and-swoop scam - a driver slammed on their brakes for no reason, then lied to the police when I inevitably hit them. Now I'm sitting here with a totaled car, only liability insurance (which won't cover my repairs), and my stomach in knots thinking about how this will impact my PhD journey as I apply to programs. Thankfully it was their word against my dash cam.

The damage is worse than it looks. My trusty Chevy Spark - the car that got me through undergrad and was supposed to see me through grad school - has a crushed transmission and radiator. It won't start, won't shift properly (I had to use the emergency brake just to keep it from rolling), and would cost more to fix than it's worth. As a low income student, this loss is devastating. Without a car, getting to campus, research sites, or teaching assignments will be nearly impossible.

I've managed to find a glimmer of hope - an almost identical replacement (same make, model, even color) with 60,000 fewer miles for $3,900. It's about what I originally paid for my car, meaning it could realistically last me through my entire doctoral program. But right now, that amount feels completely out of reach.

I've always prided myself on being self-sufficient - working multiple jobs through undergrad, applying to PhD programs - but today I have to ask for help. If you can contribute anything, even just $5, it would mean more than I can express. If you can't, I completely understand, but please consider sharing this. Either way, thank you for taking the time to read my story. This car wasn't just transportation - it was my ticket to building a better future.

With deepest gratitude,

Alex