I'm Charlie, and I've been pushing to pursue a career in the art industry since 10. I am currently 18 and have been self-taught my whole life. Getting myself into a great art school was always a goal, so through constant work and pushing through barriers, I managed to get myself into ArtCenter located in Pasadena, California. I was accepted into their Illustration program, being #1 in CA and the top 10 country-wide. As many may have assumed, the tuition for a school like this is high, and the roadblock now is coming up with the funds to accept the admissions offer. Over the past year, I was disowned and cut off financially due to my transgender identity by my parental figure. This also stripped any other support I would get to help cover the costs I am now faced with, which has left me to come up with the funds completely on my own such as housing, food and tuition. Even with student loans, scholarship offers, and cal grants, which have all been applied for, it still doesn't touch the cost. So I ask for any support you can give to help me make this happen and show even in the face of adversity, it is the mindset that makes things happen.