After nine years of sacrifice, I’m standing on the edge of a dream I’ve worked tirelessly to achieve — and I’m reaching out because without help, this dream may slip away.

My name is Felicia, and I’m just one class away from completing my Doctorate in Business Administration at California Southern University, a member of the American Intercontinental University System (AIUS). This degree isn’t just a personal milestone — it’s the foundation for a mission I’ve carried in my heart for years: to help churches plan for leadership transitions so they can grow stronger, not splinter, when change comes.

My doctoral work focuses on succession planning and change management for faith communities. I’ve seen how the sudden loss or retirement of a pastor can leave congregations fractured and uncertain. My goal is to equip churches with tools to navigate these transitions with grace, clarity, and continuity — so they can thrive for generations to come.

I’ve worked full-time while raising my son and caring for my elderly parent. I’ve battled anxiety and depression, but I’ve never let them define me. I teach my students to reach for the stars, to never give up on their dreams — and now, I find myself needing to live that lesson more than ever. I’m on the verge of giving up, not because I lack the will, but because I lack the resources. It’s heartbreaking to be this close and feel the door closing — not because I didn’t work hard, but because I can’t afford to step through it.

Despite years of effort, I’ve exhausted every financial option — scholarships, payment plans, appeals. I don’t qualify for federal aid or emergency assistance programs. And now, a tuition balance is preventing me from registering for my final course. If I can’t pay it soon, I risk being dropped from the program entirely. I don’t want to disappoint my son. I want to show him — and every student I’ve ever taught — that even when life is hard, even when the odds feel stacked against you, you keep going. You believe. You rise. You finish.

This isn’t just about earning a degree. It’s about proving to the eight-year-old Felicia, and the twelve-year-old Felicia — the girl who never believed in herself, who doubted everything she did, who felt unseen — that she was always worthy of being seen, heard, and celebrated.

It’s about showing my son and every student I’ve ever taught that you can do it. That someone sees you. That someone believes in you. And that even when life is hard, even when the odds feel stacked against you, you keep going. You rise. You finish.

If you’re able to give — whether through a donation or by sharing this story — you’ll be helping me cross the finish line. Not just for a diploma, but for healing, for legacy, and for every dreamer who needs to know that their story matters.

Thank you for believing in me.

Thank you for helping me finish what I started.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Felicia