Hello,

My name is Woo-Ri Park, and I am a single mom raising my young daughter while working as a public school teacher in the United States. Asking for help like this is not easy for me, but I’m reaching out with hope and humility.

I currently work as an ELD (English Language Development) teacher, supporting students who are new to the United States and learning English. Many of my students have recently arrived from different parts of the world, and helping them find their voice and confidence in a new language is deeply meaningful to me. Teaching multilingual students is not just a job for me—it is work I truly care about.

To become a stronger and more qualified educator, I enrolled in a graduate program while working and raising my daughter. I have done everything I can to make it this far—applying for scholarships, financial aid, and working extra hours whenever possible. After a long journey, I am now very close to graduating.

Unfortunately, I am facing one final challenge: covering the tuition for my last semester.

Because I am currently in the United States on a visa and do not yet have permanent residency, I am not eligible for federal financial aid (FAFSA). I also cannot access most private student loans without a U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer, which I do not have. This has made financing my education extremely difficult.

I try to earn extra income by tutoring students after school. However, as a single parent of a young child, working additional hours is challenging because I also need to arrange childcare after school, which adds additional costs.

Even with these challenges, I have continued to work hard because I believe deeply in the importance of education and the work I do with my students.

Completing this final semester will allow me to graduate and continue serving my students with greater expertise and stability as an educator. My hope is to continue dedicating my career to supporting multilingual students and helping them succeed in American schools.

Any support—no matter how small—would mean the world to my daughter and me. If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser would also help greatly.

The remaining tuition and related expenses I am trying to cover are approximately $6,000 for my final semester.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story and for supporting a teacher who simply wants to keep doing her best for her students and her child.

With gratitude,

Woo-Ri