Hi, my name is Aaron. I'm 18 years old. I'm an older brother to a little sister and a stepbrother to a little brother. I'm their beacon of hope. My parents separated before I was born because my father was incarcerated for 10 years and 7 months. My mom raised me as a single mom my whole life. As far back as I can remember, I would tell myself that when I was older, I would be able to change my situation if I attended college. I worked hard in high school; I joined clubs, I did my best on all my assignments, and graduated with a 3.5 GPA. I was awarded 3 scholarships. This year, I am a Freshman at UIC. My experience so far has been even better than I could have imagined. The people I have met and the experiences I've had, even in a short amount of time, have validated that hope I had when I was younger; this will make a huge difference for me and my family.

Unfortunately, my family hasn't been able to support me financially. I have a work-study job at the health center, but I am still not able to cover my expenses and stay enrolled. To be able to enroll in the next semester, I need to cover at least $1,500 and $3,300 for the next semester. I'm asking for donations not only to stay enrolled but also to help me achieve my dream of taking the next steps in the ladder that leads me to a stable life. Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read my story. I appreciate your time and attention. And an even bigger thank you to anyone who donates. From a grain of sand, mountains are built; any donation will make a difference. I'll forever be so grateful.