Please Help Me Overcome an Administrative Mistake That’s Delaying My Graduation

My name is Omarrah Dixon, and I never imagined I’d have to ask for help like this.

I’ve worked hard my entire life to rise above the challenges of growing up in foster care and to build a future I could be proud of. After years of dedication, I’m finally set to graduate this November — but an unexpected administrative mistake has left me facing a financial crisis I can’t fix on my own.

In June 2025, I submitted my renewal application for the Education and Training Voucher (ETV) — a federally funded program that helps former foster youth pay for college. I completed everything on time and trusted that my case manager, Nashun, would process my application as usual. But I recently learned that my application was never submitted before the fiscal year ended. Because of this oversight, $3,348 in approved education funding was lost — money that was supposed to help pay my tuition.

When I reached out, Nashun admitted the error and applied an additional $3,750 toward my balance to help reduce what I owe. But I was also told that the missing $3,348 could not be restored and that I should take out a loan for $2,250 to make up the difference. As someone who has already worked hard to stay debt-free and manage every expense on my own, that suggestion

felt heartbreaking — especially since those funds were supposed to be mine. Now, I’ve been advised to file a Court of Claims application against the State of Illinois to

recover the funds. But this process could take months, and in the meantime, I cannot receive credit for my internship hours or finalize my certification until my tuition is fully paid. I’ve come too far to give up now, but I truly need help to make it through this unexpected situation.

Your donation — no matter how small — will go directly toward:

• Paying my remaining $2,250 tuition balance

• Covering rent and basic living costs while I wait for the claim process

• Allowing me to graduate on time and move forward with my life

I’ve always believed that hard work and faith would carry me through. I still believe that — but right now, I could use a little help to bridge this gap. If you can donate, share, or simply send words of encouragement, I’ll be forever grateful.

With gratitude,

Omarrah Dixon