Blessings everyone!

My name is Alex, and I hail from the beautiful country of Jamaica. I have successfully completed my first semester as a Master’s of Engineering student at the University of Maryland – College Park, and have just begun my second term. It has been a blessing getting through so far with the assistance of family and friends, and I am very much indebted to them. While an accomplishment,  I would truly appreciate your help with raising funds for the remaining three semesters. My target is $49,240 US which is now much more attainable than my initial goal.  This will be approximately $3,283 each month until May 2021. I am currently specializing in Transportation Engineering. 

 

My Story  

I attended the illustrious Howard University for my Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering and graduated in 2016 with a 3.64 GPA. I was fortunate to receive a tuition scholarship as a freshman, successfully maintaining it for all eight semesters. Hence, I was able to finish on-time and debt-free, which were two HUGE blessings. While graduating on-time and debt-free were accomplishments, I made many sacrifices to cover the remaining costs. I worked 20 hours a week as a Resident Assistant for two years to offset my housing. I managed the smallest and furthest dorm away from the main campus, making my schedule very demanding as I was needed there frequently. 

In addition, I was only able to do one internship during undergrad, as my visa status had restrictions on internships that I was eligible for. Ironically, it was with the University of Maryland! However, I almost did not get paid for it, owing to my status as an international student on an F-1 visa. I also sold packets of tea on campus to help cover expenses during my final semester at Howard. In addition, I served as Treasurer for the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society – DC Alpha Chapter, Vice-Captain of the Howard University Steel Bridge team for the American Society for Civil Engineers (ASCE), a campus liaison for the Howard University International Pals, and functioned as an ambassador for the Howard University Caribbean Students’ Association (HUCSA). I have also volunteered at DC Central Kitchen, Ironman Half- Triathlon, and at Milestone Place, which houses previously homeless single adults with low income.     

Following graduation, I used my Optional Practical Training (OPT) and worked at Deloitte Consulting for 14 months as a Business Technology Analyst. On September 13th 2017, I was informed that that was my last day, and my termination was immediate. The average time one spends in that entry-level position is 2 years, which means that I had a departure earlier than expected. The US government mandates that foreign students on STEM OPT have 150 days (5 months) to find a new job to maintain their status in the country.  It was an emotionally and financially difficult time for me, as my rent and health insurance costs increased, depleting my savings month after month.   

Through aggressive networking and sheer determination, I got a tutoring job at Frog Tutoring in 3 ½ months, which helped with food and transportation. There I mentored and assisted students in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics, with all students passing with A’s or B’s. The parents were very thankful for their childrens’ improvements. I also took the GRE, as well as passed my Engineer-In-Training (EIT) exam during that time. In that vein, I am on track for eligibility to be licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE). I then finally began a full-time job as an Entry-Level Civil Engineer at AECOM, exactly 8 months after my layoff, and assisted with Drainage Analysis, Bridge Rehabilitation, Traffic Data Analysis and many other things. In addition, I am also a jazz pianist, and I currently assist with the music ministry at Grace Covenant Church in DC periodically.   

On June 27th, 2019, I underwent bi-lateral orthoscopic hip surgery in Jamaica and was immobilized for nearly 7 weeks. I began my Master of Engineering Studies at the University of Maryland immediately after in August 2019.  Juggling limited mobility, physical therapy sessions, classes and a student shuttle bus driver job on a large campus was arduous but the experience strengthened my resolve. I dealt with this hardship through constant physical exercise, healthy eating habits, spending quality time with family and friends who visited during my recovery, playing my piano back home, and consistent prayer during times when I was alone and impatient with the recuperation.  Currently, I have been successful in my Project Management, Highway Traffic Characteristics and Regional Transportation Planning classes.  While taking these courses, I produced a 33-page term project report describing how I utilized raw Excel traffic data in VISSIM to provide congestion mitigation strategies over the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.  In addition, paying for and attending the Transportation Research Board (TRB) 2020 conference allowed me to contribute ideas in a workshop on rural transportation issues, as well as learn about the niche of aviation in transportation.

With a love for languages, I am currently in the process of teaching myself Spanish intensively. I hope to utilize that skill to develop transportation systems in Latin American and Caribbean countries in the future.  I also volunteered as a translator this past Thanksgiving at my local church, in which we distributed turkeys to over twenty-five Spanish-speaking families.


Being the only one from my immediate family currently in the US, every day depends on my initiative. My grandparents are currently dealing with various health challenges as they age, and my sister is currently studying in medical school. Hence, both rely heavily on my parents’ financial support.