Hello! My name is Alicia Nascimento, and I am about to enter my Sophomore Year at Umass Amherst! I am a Japanese Language/Literature and Linguistics Double Major, and I am intending to minor in Education and Italian, also considering a third minor if I have the time to include it. I worked really hard this past year, and have been on the Dean's List for my entire Freshman Year of college, mainting all A's for the entire year and totaling 37 credits in just two semesters. I am in an acapella group, known as Umass Note-orious, and I've tried to be as involved on campus as possible, and maintain as much of a diligent work ethic as possible. I also have an on-campus job thanks to my work study, and I work around 10-12 hours each week, before or after class each day, to save up for my tuition.

The hard part is that I have to earn my college tuition all by myself, as my mother's pension cannot help me through any of my tuition. It is only enough to provide us a home and food. Additionally, last summer I found out that my bank cannot give me a student loan, as I have no credit, and my mother has great credit but next to no income. There was nothing we could do to get a loan.

This summer, I am trying to earn everything by myself, attempting to try to balance two full time jobs. I am currently in the application process for a second job as my current full time job cannot offer me enough hours right now to afford the full tuition bill. This is a very difficult thing for me to do as I hate to ask other people for money. Any donation means the world to me. I am eternally grateful for any and all help. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Alicia Nascimento

Included are photos of my acapella group and I, my mother, my Japanese class, and some photos of me at school and on campus!