Help Paola Graduate

Hello! My name is Paola, and I’m raising money to help pay for my final semester at Smith College. Reaching this financial goal will allow me to graduate this January with enough financial security to 1) begin paying off the federal loans I’ve accrued while at Smith and 2) pursue the next steps in my career and education.

As a low-income student, I’ve worked tirelessly to afford my degree, but I need help to finish it. I’ve paid for every semester on my own, but Smith has raised my tuition this upcoming semester. I can’t afford the total cost without putting myself in financial jeopardy.

I want to end my undergraduate career financially in a safe place, and reaching this goal would accomplish that. I’m very grateful for anything that you can give.

If you’d like to read more about my college experiences (i.e., transferring, working, etc.), see below:

When I graduated high school, I committed to Emerson College. However, I quickly realized I couldn’t afford a semester there, even with financial aid, let alone four years.

Switching gears, I decided to start my education at community college. I completed three semesters (and one summer class) between Housatonic Community College and Norwalk Community College. During this time, I worked full-time at Panera Bread, then Trader Joe’s, and also nannying part-time. My time at community college allowed me to save money and take the time I needed to figure out my next steps.

I happily transferred to Smith College in January 2020, eager to finish the next two years at a traditional undergraduate college and planning to double-major in Film and Media Studies and English Language and Literature. At that time, I needed to start taking on federal loans to make up for the higher tuition cost.

In March 2020, like almost every other college student in the country, I was sent back home less than two months after transferring. Fortunately, I could return to my job at Trader Joe’s; however, then I became an essential worker at the height of the pandemic and a Zoom University student all at once. Because I had transferred, I was behind on credits and couldn’t take any time off from school. From Spring 2020 up until returning to Smith in Fall 2021, I was a full-time student online and a full-time employee.

Finally, this past 21-22 academic year, I was able to return to Smith. I worked in the dining halls and as a TA for multiple film classes to make ends meet. As I enter this fall semester, I will be a TA once more for the film department. Additionally, I'm directing/producing a 15-minute short film I've written through a semester long "special studies" project.

Post-graduation, I will return to Trader Joe’s while pursuing internships and jobs within the film industry. I am also hoping to apply for grad school by 2024.