My name is Ibrahim, and I came to Canada a few years ago as a refugee with one dream: to finally have the chance to go to school. Today, I am the first in my family to attend university — and I am working hard toward my goal of becoming an airline pilot.

Growing up, education was something I could only dream about. In Syria, my school was bombed during the war. Later, in Lebanon, my family couldn’t afford to send me to school. When I arrived in Canada, I finally had the chance to learn. I pushed myself through high school while learning English, and last year I proudly completed my first year at Mount Allison University with a GPA of 3.6. This past summer, I worked full-time while also taking full-time classes to stay on track.

Now I’m entering the flight training portion of my program, and the costs have risen much higher than I expected. Tuition is about $40,000 this year between Mount Allison University and Moncton Flight College. On top of that, I have living expenses and must travel regularly between the two campuses. Government student loans cover a maximum of about $28,000, which leaves me with a gap of more than $20,000 — even after my summer earnings.

Around the same time, I received my flight school uniform, and I felt my dream coming closer than ever. But I also realized just how intimidating these costs would be. Most students fill this gap with bank loans, but because of my religion, I cannot take on interest-based loans. In Islam, this is called Riba (usury), and it is prohibited. This leaves me with very few options.

My family supports me in every way they can, but they are also working hard to build their lives here. My father has started a small business, one of my sisters is studying to become a medical lab technician, and I am lucky to have two beautiful nieces who bring us joy every day. I hope that by pursuing this path, I can one day give back more to my family and be a role model for my younger brother and nieces as they begin to chase their own dreams.

Becoming a pilot is not just a career choice for me. It is the future I’ve been working toward for years, and the way I can build a stable life and make my family proud after everything we’ve been through. Things are hard now but this first year of university has only made my ambition to be a pilot stronger. I have also learned that it is a profession that will soon be in demand as Transport Canada is already experiencing a pilot shortage and predicts it to grow in coming years. This means that not only will I be able to make a living doing what I love, I will help my home of Canada sustain our crucial transportation systems.

I am asking for your help to raise $20,000 to cover the gap between my loans and the actual cost of tuition, training, and transportation. Every dollar raised will go directly toward my education and flight training.

Your kindness will help me continue my studies, pursue my dream, and one day give back to others in the community — just as people are helping me now. Thank you for believing in me and supporting my journey.