Hello World,
My name is Alicia Berry. My story may or may not sound like one you have heard before. I am writing as a Morgan State sophomore, Baltimore City-raised student and emerging woman, trying her best to balance work, school, and family. I would not be here without the support of the kind people last year through Ms. Padder’s fund that donated in order to allow me to enter school set with my materials and supplies. Last year, I was a first-year freshman. This was a goal I saw for myself for years but would not have been able to reach without your support. So many people made it possible for me to have a successful school year. I received so much support physically, emotionally, and financially.
As many may know, I am a first generation college student. I’ve had struggles because I lack immediate family support. My mother suffers from mental illness and addiction and my father is absent in my life. Therefore, I was the primary care-taker for my three younger siblings and currently balance work and school in order to pay for their cell phone bills, buy groceries, and help support them through their education. I do what I can to provide them with the role model I lacked at their age. Last semester, I worked two jobs - at Rite Aid and the Office of Residence Life & Housing on campus, as well as balanced a full-time course load as a student at Morgan State University. Last year, I had to get surgery & I can recall myself going back into work 3 days after surgery even though the doctor told me to take a week off from school & work. My physical health suffered as I would sacrifice taking care of myself to take care of my family. I must admit it has been a struggling rough road.
Now, I am proud to say a sophomore at Morgan State University. I am finishing Fall 2017 semester with a 3.25 GPA and I am continuing to work on my physical and emotional growth. After lessons of learning, I’ve realized the importance of my health in order to continue to be here for my siblings and all my supporters that want to see my success. I recently invested in a gym membership to be in better physical health and I’ve been going to counseling for about four months now. I’m hoping to take a bit of the financial stress off my hands so that I can focus more on school and paving a path that will support my siblings as well. I am dedicating my life’s work to social work as this was the path that allowed me to leave an unsupportive and dangerous living situation as a teenager.
When I am able to, I plan to give back in every way possible, including financially, because without the support from people like you, I would not have been able to afford making it through freshman year. Any donation will mean the world to me.
I’m hoping these funds will help cover:
- School supplies
- Books
- Transportation expenses
- Passport (I’m studying abroad to travel this summer)
- Spending for the year
Thank you,
Alicia Berry
Help Spread the Word!
My name is Alicia Berry. My story may or may not sound like one you have heard before. I am writing as a Morgan State sophomore, Baltimore City-raised student and emerging woman, trying her best to balance work, school, and family. I would not be here without the support of the kind people last year through Ms. Padder’s fund that donated in order to allow me to enter school set with my materials and supplies. Last year, I was a first-year freshman. This was a goal I saw for myself for years but would not have been able to reach without your support. So many people made it possible for me to have a successful school year. I received so much support physically, emotionally, and financially.
As many may know, I am a first generation college student. I’ve had struggles because I lack immediate family support. My mother suffers from mental illness and addiction and my father is absent in my life. Therefore, I was the primary care-taker for my three younger siblings and currently balance work and school in order to pay for their cell phone bills, buy groceries, and help support them through their education. I do what I can to provide them with the role model I lacked at their age. Last semester, I worked two jobs - at Rite Aid and the Office of Residence Life & Housing on campus, as well as balanced a full-time course load as a student at Morgan State University. Last year, I had to get surgery & I can recall myself going back into work 3 days after surgery even though the doctor told me to take a week off from school & work. My physical health suffered as I would sacrifice taking care of myself to take care of my family. I must admit it has been a struggling rough road.
Now, I am proud to say a sophomore at Morgan State University. I am finishing Fall 2017 semester with a 3.25 GPA and I am continuing to work on my physical and emotional growth. After lessons of learning, I’ve realized the importance of my health in order to continue to be here for my siblings and all my supporters that want to see my success. I recently invested in a gym membership to be in better physical health and I’ve been going to counseling for about four months now. I’m hoping to take a bit of the financial stress off my hands so that I can focus more on school and paving a path that will support my siblings as well. I am dedicating my life’s work to social work as this was the path that allowed me to leave an unsupportive and dangerous living situation as a teenager.
When I am able to, I plan to give back in every way possible, including financially, because without the support from people like you, I would not have been able to afford making it through freshman year. Any donation will mean the world to me.
I’m hoping these funds will help cover:
- School supplies
- Books
- Transportation expenses
- Passport (I’m studying abroad to travel this summer)
- Spending for the year
Thank you,
Alicia Berry
Help Spread the Word!
Organizer
Alicia Berry
Organizer
Baltimore, MD