Hi! My name is Joy, and I am a Bard College low-income international student who was recently accepted to the SUNY New Paltz MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program for Fall 2026.

Being a low-income international student from a war-torn country (to which, at the moment, I cannot physically return), asking for strangers' support is my only hope for financing my education. I have no familial support, and the program doesn't have any scholarships for international students.

I am attempting to raise $46,000 by the end of May to make my education possible. If you would be willing to contribute (even the smallest amount) towards my first-year tuition payment, it would mean the world to me.

I am passionate about bringing equitable perspectives into the fields of mental health and education, and throughout the last year and a half, I have volunteered giving adolescents in Kenya virtual viola lessons and supporting students in Afghanistan in their fight for education (as a part of a non-profit).

Due to not being a US citizen, I have many legal limitations, such as only being able to work on campus, having a mandatory requirement of being a full-time student, and not being eligible for any federal monetary support (scholarships, grants, loans, etc...). I recently applied for a work permit (to be able to be employed this summer), but that can also take 3-5 months to be granted, and despite residing in New York State for over 5 years, I am also not eligible for in-state tuition.

Your financial help will not only support my safety, education, and well-being but will also directly contribute to a more diverse mental health field by allowing low-income, multicultural, trilingual individuals like me to serve and advocate for others.