Daniel's Journey to college

Hello everyone, my name is Daniel Rodriguez. I am a Bernstein High School senior and first generation college student from South LA.

Growing up, I never had an ideal parental figure because my mother passed away when I was 6 and my dad struggled to be a supportive father. It was thanks to great shows and movies that I was able to have a semblance of childhood and learn necessary life lessons. Lessons that laid the foundation to get me through the most difficult times in my life like the passing of my mother, neglect, domestic violence, poverty, homelessness and a life in the foster system. This is why I want to partake in the creation of children's entertainment as a 3-D animator/artist. I want to be a success story in my family so that my younger brother and sister can see that the pursuit of a better life is possible. I aspire to be an inspiration, so that children like me have hope that they can succeed and someone to look up to.

This is why I have created this GoFundMe. I want to be able to utilize these funds to fully fund my education this upcoming fall semester at the University of California Davis and allow me to thrive in my first year of college. Having my first year funded would mean I could focus on making sure that I succeed in my academic education and make it my main priority. Focusing more on my education would allow me to excel on internships, fellowships, and give me more time to find the support that I need for my success. Every second taken to read my story is cherished and every penny donated appreciated.