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Dear friends & family,
Over the past few weeks, Andreas has heard back from all of the five law schools he applied to and has been accepted to all. He has worked extremely hard for this and we are very proud. However, while he is extremely appreciative of the generous scholarship he received, Andreas finds himself in a very difficult situation. Due to the fact that he is a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, he is ineligible for federal loans, or any federal financial aid. Although he does have the option to seek private loans, these loans require a U.S. citizen cosigner, which makes this option nearly impossible for him to pursue. All of this means that whatever amount of the tuition that the merit scholarship does not cover, he must pay out of pocket. Andreas is seeking to enroll at Syracuse College of Law, and while most of his tuition is covered by his merit scholarship, he is struggling to find the money for housing throughout the academic year, books, health insurance, and additional fees. As of now, his financial status is the only factor currently stopping him from moving forward with his legal education.
With this we ask for your support. Please read his story below…
As a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, I understood what the outcome of the United States election meant for me. It was a night on which I was confronted with what would become the biggest challenge of my life. Indeed, I found myself facing the possibility of being sent back to a country which, although I love, I barely know. I had sacrificed so much for DACA, such as my grandfather’s funeral, my sister’s quinceañera, and family weddings back in Mexico. The possibility that it may have all been unavailing terrified me.
Prior to November 8, 2016, as I neared the completion of my associate degree from a community college, I began preparing to pursue a higher education at the prestigious University of Rochester in New York. I was motivated due to the sense of welcoming I perceived from the university. After election night, however, this motivation began to fade. I knew there was a possibility that DACA would eventually be rescinded, and without this program, my ability to pursue a higher education and any job thereafter would become limited. But even as I began contemplating dropping out of school, I realized I had to move forward, not only for myself, but also for my mom, my sister, and my community.
Despite an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, I became more active, in every sense of the word. I became more engaged in my studies and extracurricular activities. Not only was I determined to overcome this barrier for myself, but I was committed to helping my community and others who were going through similar situations. In addition, I decided to move forward and submit my application to the University of Rochester. Although unsure of what the future held, I became stronger than the fear of the uncertainty. On April 7, 2017, I received a letter of acceptance from the University of Rochester.
My interest in pursuing a career in law is a result of both my ongoing journey through the immigration legal system and my experiences helping other immigrants. As a DACA recipient, I have experienced the ways through which the legal system can put a tremendous burden on someone’s life. As a lawyer, I want to help individuals like myself, innocent people who one way or another got tangled up in the system. The law is a remarkable and powerful phenomenon; I believe that if one searches deep enough, one can always find a way to help those in need.
To say that my journey toward the American Dream as a DACA recipient has been an ongoing challenge would be an understatement. Nonetheless, I am truly grateful that this has been the case, because every obstacle along the way has contributed to my personal growth and the development of my work ethic.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy is still in effect, and the uncertainty surrounding it is precisely what keeps me going. Despite the rigor that law school will bring, I believe this challenge is one that I must confront in order to fulfill my purpose of helping those affected by the system and those whose lives depend on it being fair both legally and morally. I am confident that my experiences along with my dedication, work ethic, and passion will serve as valuable assets throughout my legal education and beyond.
Andreas is fully aware of the fact that moving forward with my academic career will require a financial investment on his part, and he is absolutely prepared to work hard for it. However, as opposed to the majority of students who choose to attend law school, he is unfortunately ineligible for any federal assistance through the FAFSA system due to his immigration status. His ability to move forward is thus contingent on the remaining balance after any scholarship amount.
As we share his story with you, we hope you choose to support his endeavors to pursue a legal education. Every donation counts and simply giving your verbal support means the world to him.
Thank You,
Leila Fahmy & Deema Abdo
Over the past few weeks, Andreas has heard back from all of the five law schools he applied to and has been accepted to all. He has worked extremely hard for this and we are very proud. However, while he is extremely appreciative of the generous scholarship he received, Andreas finds himself in a very difficult situation. Due to the fact that he is a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, he is ineligible for federal loans, or any federal financial aid. Although he does have the option to seek private loans, these loans require a U.S. citizen cosigner, which makes this option nearly impossible for him to pursue. All of this means that whatever amount of the tuition that the merit scholarship does not cover, he must pay out of pocket. Andreas is seeking to enroll at Syracuse College of Law, and while most of his tuition is covered by his merit scholarship, he is struggling to find the money for housing throughout the academic year, books, health insurance, and additional fees. As of now, his financial status is the only factor currently stopping him from moving forward with his legal education.
With this we ask for your support. Please read his story below…
As a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy, I understood what the outcome of the United States election meant for me. It was a night on which I was confronted with what would become the biggest challenge of my life. Indeed, I found myself facing the possibility of being sent back to a country which, although I love, I barely know. I had sacrificed so much for DACA, such as my grandfather’s funeral, my sister’s quinceañera, and family weddings back in Mexico. The possibility that it may have all been unavailing terrified me.
Prior to November 8, 2016, as I neared the completion of my associate degree from a community college, I began preparing to pursue a higher education at the prestigious University of Rochester in New York. I was motivated due to the sense of welcoming I perceived from the university. After election night, however, this motivation began to fade. I knew there was a possibility that DACA would eventually be rescinded, and without this program, my ability to pursue a higher education and any job thereafter would become limited. But even as I began contemplating dropping out of school, I realized I had to move forward, not only for myself, but also for my mom, my sister, and my community.
Despite an overwhelming sense of hopelessness, I became more active, in every sense of the word. I became more engaged in my studies and extracurricular activities. Not only was I determined to overcome this barrier for myself, but I was committed to helping my community and others who were going through similar situations. In addition, I decided to move forward and submit my application to the University of Rochester. Although unsure of what the future held, I became stronger than the fear of the uncertainty. On April 7, 2017, I received a letter of acceptance from the University of Rochester.
My interest in pursuing a career in law is a result of both my ongoing journey through the immigration legal system and my experiences helping other immigrants. As a DACA recipient, I have experienced the ways through which the legal system can put a tremendous burden on someone’s life. As a lawyer, I want to help individuals like myself, innocent people who one way or another got tangled up in the system. The law is a remarkable and powerful phenomenon; I believe that if one searches deep enough, one can always find a way to help those in need.
To say that my journey toward the American Dream as a DACA recipient has been an ongoing challenge would be an understatement. Nonetheless, I am truly grateful that this has been the case, because every obstacle along the way has contributed to my personal growth and the development of my work ethic.
The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy is still in effect, and the uncertainty surrounding it is precisely what keeps me going. Despite the rigor that law school will bring, I believe this challenge is one that I must confront in order to fulfill my purpose of helping those affected by the system and those whose lives depend on it being fair both legally and morally. I am confident that my experiences along with my dedication, work ethic, and passion will serve as valuable assets throughout my legal education and beyond.
Andreas is fully aware of the fact that moving forward with my academic career will require a financial investment on his part, and he is absolutely prepared to work hard for it. However, as opposed to the majority of students who choose to attend law school, he is unfortunately ineligible for any federal assistance through the FAFSA system due to his immigration status. His ability to move forward is thus contingent on the remaining balance after any scholarship amount.
As we share his story with you, we hope you choose to support his endeavors to pursue a legal education. Every donation counts and simply giving your verbal support means the world to him.
Thank You,
Leila Fahmy & Deema Abdo