Help a First-Generation Refugee Graduate from Columbia

Just a week before my final, I received another email from the University office stating that it had put a hold on my account. This has been a tremendously sad setback for me.

As a first-generation graduate student from a refugee background, my journey to Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs—one of the nation’s foremost policy schools—is a testament to the American dream.

From a young age, growing up in a refugee camp, my father instilled in us the values of self-reliance, hard work, resilience, and perseverance. As a first-generation student and refugee, the importance of education has always been clear to me, and it's a belief that has guided me through every step of my journey.

Despite these accomplishments, the path to higher education remains fraught with obstacles, many of which I faced head-on during my undergraduate years. From the brink of homelessness to leaving university temporarily to care for my paralyzed father and provide support to my disabled family members, the road has been anything but smooth. But I’ve persevered.

I have almost finished my advanced degree in International and Public Affairs at Columbia University. This is not just a personal accomplishment, but it is also the realization of dreams that go beyond my own. However, this final stage of this journey has been marred by financial difficulties which are a threat to my ability to graduate and pursue the rest of my professional trajectory.

Despite making several appeals, the university's lack of response has widened that threat, and the gap between affluent and less privileged students at SIPA has become very apparent.

This moment is critical, and I am reaching out to you, my community, for support. Any contribution, whether financial or by sharing this message within your networks, to help me to cross the pivotal finish line.

I recognize there are many worthy causes to support, but for a first-generation refugee student from a low-income background, completing my education represents a commitment to a lifetime of pursuing truth, justice, and equality. Your support is not just an investment in my future; it is an affirmation of the values we share and the impact we hope to make in the world.

I am so grateful for your support and belief in my journey. Thank you for considering my request and for any support you may be able to lend!