​​My name is Carlos. I'm Venezuelan, and I just started studying at the University of Toronto Scarborough (I am also the person on the left of the cover photo). Everything was settled and ready to go. Then, on July 23rd 2021, my father (the person on the right) passed away due to unforeseen complications with COVID-19. As he was the financial anchor of our family, our monetary capabilities have been severely compromised by his passing, putting my education in jeopardy. This is why I am here, asking for your support to pay my first year tuition without putting my family in a dire financial situation.


 


My story


 


​​My name is Carlos. I'm Venezuelan, and I'm a first-year at the University of Toronto Scarborough. I lived in the UAE for nine years before moving to Canada earlier this year.


 I went to school at a top IB (International Baccalaureate) school in Abu Dhabi, where my final score was in the top 6.6% globally. Within the IB, which is already a notoriously difficult program, I enrolled in more higher-level classes than recommended, having a greater workload than my peers. I took higher-level classes in both the arts and the sciences, excelling in all of them. This diverse education has led to a holistic view of the world. I'm a hard-working person that is determined to finish university with a great score, as I have always been.


 


At the same time, I was a leader and an integral part of many initiatives within the school and beyond. I was involved in musicals, choir, was the student representative at the school’s new campus inauguration, and was overall a large part of the student corpus. I hope to continue challenging myself to positively impact the communities around me.


 


Me graduating with my family:


 


 

<img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59629731_1630870323806740_r." alt="" width="100%" media_type="3" />
 


 


My situation


 


Unfortunately, on July 23rd, my father passed away from the Coronavirus.


 


He was a loving dad who worked every single day of his life to ensure our success, love, and protection. He wore my brothers' and my names with pride and loved us deeply. As a family that is so tight-knit, the news was dreadful and heartbreaking. We have been mourning for months as we try to rationalize and understand our situation.


 


This process, being long and arduous, has impacted my family greatly, not only emotionally, but logistically. My mother, having only recently gained her Worker's visa, sadly, only consistently earns a quarter of what my father earned.


 


Despite my father’s passing, I still went forward and moved into the University of Toronto’s campus. I gained a 107,500CAD scholarship spread over four years, a sum which aids financially. This scholarship was granted to me because of my near-perfect scores in high school, as well as the aforementioned variety of courses I took. It was also a scholarship granted to me considering my financial standing when my father was there.


 


While the scholarship is generous by typical standards, it is no longer enough to cover for my education without forcing my family to drastically change their lifestyle.


 


My brothers and me at my father's passing ceremony:


 


 

<img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59629731_1630870279976768_r." alt="" width="100%" media_type="3" />
 


 


 


 


Why University of Toronto?


 


The University of Toronto has always been my top university choice. It’s education system gives me the freedom to my large breadth of interests beyond a single program of study. As the top university in Canada and a top 20 worldwide, I also expect my classes to be rigorous and prepare me for life after university.


 


Additionally, the thriving city of Toronto provides many opportunities for professional growth outside of class. The diverse student community also provides plenty of opportunities to learn with people from different walks of life and to engage in leadership roles within university organizations and initiatives. Furthermore, the politically open society of Canada will allow me to learn from a living community where I can understand how institutional change is influenced by activism.


 


It has been my dream to attend this university for six years, and I'm finally here. Now, because of entirely unforeseen, heartbreaking circumstances, it is being jeopardized.


 


Me at the University of Toronto Scarborough Orientation (Frosh) Week (I'm in the middle, squatting):


 


 

<img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59629731_1630870207266537_r." alt="" width="100%" media_type="3" />
 


 


Where will the money go?


 


The aforementioned scholarship will be divided into 25,000CAD for each year. The yearly tuition, including residence, is around 64,000CAD. Therefore, I am asking for 39,500CAD for the first year, to accommodate tuition, residence, and the cost of textbooks and mandatory supplies.


 


This is unrealistic for my family to pay fully, given the short notice and the circumstances, without severely compromising their livelihood and my little brother’s schooling. I have already contacted the university for both financial aid and an amendment to my scholarship. Financial aid is restricted solely to Canadian citizens, therefore, I cannot get financial aid from the university. The awards office also cannot grant extra money in admissions scholarships after the fact, even in my compromising situation.


 


That is why I am asking for money: to finance my first year at the university. This would allow my family to pick themselves up, so we can hopefully pay the last two years ourselves. I am also planning to apply for a job and additional scholarships. My mother will be working more hours a week, and my older brother will also be obtaining income. So, hopefully, after a year, we can be stable and finance my education directly. But for now, know every cent could change my life.


 


Thank you,


 


Carlos

Anonymous

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