Hello!

My name is Ahrianna Vicks. I’m a 1st-Gen college student at Dillard University majoring in Psychology with a minor in Political Science determined to graduate and make my family proud. I’ve worked incredibly hard to maintain my honor status at Baton Rouge Magnet High School as well as at Dillard University while balancing the challenges that come with being the 1st in my family to pursue and completing a higher education. I'm so passionate, about my career path, that I've volunteered and have already worked within the fields of Social Work and Psychology. I have excellent people skills, am a "quick study", and always willing to help out/get the job done. I’m willing to work for whatever I need, want, and desire.

Unfortunately, I’m facing an unexpected financial hurdle. I need financial assistance to help cover the rest of my tuition, books, and living expenses, so I can continue my education this semester and stay on track to graduate. Without this support, I risk being purged from my classes, having to pause, and/or drop out, which would set back my dreams and the future I’ve been working so hard to build.

While college is more than a degree to me, my dream is to earn my bachelor’s degree and continue on to complete a master’s and a doctoral degree (PsyD) in clinical psychology with a concentration in child development. I would love to have the opportunity to finish what I started and make the most of every chance I have. I am deeply committed to supporting children who come from traumatic backgrounds, and I hope to use an intersectional, culturally aware approach to break the stigma surrounding mental health in communities of color. Being bilingual is an important part of how I plan to bridge gaps in access and create safe, affirming spaces for healing.

Growing up in Baton Rouge shaped my commitment to civic engagement and deepened my understanding of how poverty and systemic barriers affect Black communities. Those early experiences are what fuel my dedication to education, advocacy, and future clinical work. Coming from a working‑class household and being a first‑generation college student also taught me the resilience required to pursue my goals even when the path feels uncertain. My parents carried heavy responsibilities of their own such as caring for sick relatives, stretching each paycheck, and doing everything they could as only children themselves. Their tenacity shaped my understanding of perseverance. At the same time, I learned the importance of community and the courage it takes to ask for help when you can’t carry everything alone.

I want to continue my education, stay on the path I’ve worked so hard to build, and ultimately give back to the communities that shaped me. Any support whether through donations or simply sharing my story brings me one step closer to achieving my purpose. Your generosity helps me stay in school, continue my journey, and become the psychologist I aspire to be for the next generation.

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for helping me continue my journey. Together, we can turn this challenge into an opportunity to succeed.