From Cameroon to Michigan: One Year Left

Becoming an architect has been a dream of mine since I was a child. In 2019, I took the first step toward making that dream a reality when I began college. With the support of my family and generous scholarships from Swarthmore College, I earned a BA in Architectural Studies. In 2023, I began my Master of Architecture at the University of Michigan’s Taubman College, supported again by scholarships.

Unfortunately, those scholarships only covered the first two years of my three-year program. Now, as I enter my final year, I am faced with a devastating reality: I can no longer afford to continue without additional support.

My time at Swarthmore and Michigan has been nothing short of transformative. I’ve grown intellectually, technically, and personally. At Swarthmore, I learned to take bold intellectual risks. At Taubman, I’ve sharpened my technical and design skills. Over the past six years, I’ve been honored to receive several awards and fellowships, including the City of Chicago Mayoral Fellowship, which deepened my understanding of the political systems that shape architecture. I published a research essay on urbanism and colonialism, participated in the Global Citizen Young Artists Collective, and independently researched, designed, and fabricated work I’m proud of.

I know I still have so much more to accomplish, and I’m determined to finish what I started.

As an international student from Cameroon, graduate-level funding is extremely limited. I’ve explored every possible avenue and have now turned to this platform as a last resort. With your support, I can complete my final year of graduate school and continue pursuing a career dedicated to designing spaces that uplift, inspire, and serve communities.

The funds raised here will help cover a current outstanding balance of $30,000 from the University of Michigan from the previous semester. Clearing this balance is essential for me to enroll in the upcoming fall semester and continue my education. While this campaign won't cover the full cost of my final year, it will allow me to stay enrolled and buy me crucial time to secure additional funding. I am also hoping to raise an extra $5,000 to help cover living expenses for the fall semester, primarily rent.

If I am unable to resolve this balance and enroll in the upcoming semester, I will be forced to leave the United States. Currently, the U.S. administration is considering placing Cameroon on a travel ban list, which would mean I may not be allowed to return, effectively preventing me from completing my degree and ending my dream of becoming an architect. The stakes are incredibly high, and time is running out.

Any contribution, no matter the size, would mean the world to me. Thank you for helping me get one step closer to becoming an architect.