From Homelessness to Honors; Help Needed for College

"Help My Son Yahzir Start His College Journey"

My name is Zena, and I am a wheelchair-bound, single mother of three. Raising my children alone has been my greatest joy and my hardest challenge. I have always told them, “Knowledge is the key to changing our circumstances,” and we have lived by that; through storms, homelessness, and every trial life has thrown at us. My oldest son, Yahzir, is an extraordinary young man. He just graduated "with honors", as a proud member of the Eta Omicron Honor Society, holding a "4.57 weighted GPA". He has spent countless hours volunteering; at the food bank, in the Navy Sea Cadet program as a Midshipman, and with a church youth group teaching robotics. At home, he helps me every day with cooking and chores, never once complaining about the extra responsibility my disability places on him.

When a hurricane displaced us, forcing us into shelters, outdoors, or wherever we could find safety, I still made sure we went to the library to keep learning. That commitment to education paid off; Yahzir even taught himself to code at just ten years old! Today, he’s pursuing his dream of a career in "cybersecurity".

At first, he did not want to go to college; he wanted to stay home and take care of me and his younger brother. I told him the greatest gift he could give me is to follow his dreams and use his talents to make a difference. He is already a step ahead, earning "12 college credits" through dual enrollment before his first official day of class.

Unfortunately, despite applying for multiple scholarships and grants, we recently learned he will not be receiving the funding we had counted on. I live solely on Social Security Disability income, without housing assistance, and I have been homeschooling my children for years. I do not own a vehicle, so I need to rent one to get him to school, cover gas, tolls, travel expenses, and purchase his essential college supplies.

This month, for the first time, I did not pay rent; just so I could try to make this happen for him. Still, I’m short of the funds needed. The vehicle rental alone is over $1,000 (including the deposit), not including fuel, tolls, and supplies he needs for college. We leave next week, and time is running out.

I have never asked for help like this before. However, today, I am humbly setting my pride aside to ask for your support. Please help me send Yahzir off to college so he can become the kind, caring, successful man I know he is meant to be.

If I can get him there, I know he will make the most of every opportunity. Also in spite of my current circumstances, if he could not go, he is the type of young man who would simply smile and say, “Mom, don’t worry about it.” However, I do not want him to have to say that.

Every donation; no matter the size, will make a difference. Thank you for helping us open the door to his future! Thank you in advance to any and all that are able to contribute; it truly means the world to our family!