Hello! Due to the overwhelming support, I was able to begin my fall semester, but I am still in need of help to finish MY FINAL SEMESTER ! 

The funds raised were used to clear my previous semester balance and get into the fall semester but not enough to pay for the full fall semester. I was able to get a 3.4GPA and took a total of 20 credits! I am now a second semester GRADUATING SENIOR, but I need help for this last push. Anything helps, please reach out with any questions! Thank you

Hi, my name is Cherish Patton, I’m a rising senior at Spelman College.

I'm a completely independent student after the loss of my mother and have to fund/manage my education on my own. If I am unable to secure these funds I will be unable to finish my degree. My journey in school has been anything but easy including semesters working full time, fighting for money every term and feeling hopeless.

Think of this as an untraditional scholarship application, or a mutual aid request, from someone doing everything she can to stay afloat and asking for help from those who are able to give. I’ve created this in hopes of securing support to finish my senior year and graduate in the Spring of 2026 with a bachelor's degree in Comparative Women’s Studies and Environmental Science. I’m hoping to pursue a career in End of Life education and take my next steps at law school.

Since this may be a little lengthy, I’ve broken it into three parts: Who I Am, My Ask, and Why It Matters. Thank you for your time, your compassion, and for reading my story.

Who I Am

Hailing from Harlem, NY, my journey to Spelman officially began in Fall 2022. I arrived in Atlanta with my childhood home packed in a van with me, my cat named Toothless and a deep desire to make sense of my life through education.

My mother passed in 2020, forever changing the trajectory of my life. The weight of my grief was unbearable and I am still learning how to function with the gaping hole in my heart.

At just 18 years old, I was forced into survival mode, having to withdraw from my first semester of college. Academics were impossible to focus on but after a year and a half of navigating profound loss, instability, and uncertainty, I made the life-changing decision to return to school, the one constant I believed could guide me forward.

Since arriving at Spelman, I’ve experienced more heartbreak, including the loss of my grandmother during my first year. Still, I’ve found strength, community, support, and a sense of belonging that keeps me moving through the waves of grief, severe depression, ADHD, and the heavy weight of being an independent student.

I’ve exhausted every resource, including Spelman’s limited institutional support, federal aid and scholarships. With no parental support, I’ve been left to rely on funds left by my mother, and student loans to put myself through college. On top of being a full time student, I have had to work - at times more than 25 hours a week - just to cover food, rent, transportation, and other essentials. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, but the truth is, this pace is unsustainable. It’s taken a toll on my health, my studies, and my well-being.

My Ask

I’m asking for support from Spelman alumnae, AUC alumni, and anyone who feels moved by my story. Specifically, I’m seeking help covering:

$40,000 for tuition for both of the remaining semesters (accounting for Gofundme fees)

Any support for next semester

Any paid internships, scholarships, or resources available now or for the upcoming academic year

Any guidance, mentorship, and mothering you can spare.

This support would allow me to finish my senior year strong. Any funds raised beyond my academic needs will go directly toward essential living costs like food, housing, and transportation.

Spelman costs a little over $16,800 per semester—not including off-campus housing. I currently am not eligible for financial or institutional aid, which still only covers less than half a semester of tuition. To complete this semester I need 18,000:

$2,000 balance from my previous semester

$16,800 for the fall semester, a down payment of $11,000 is required to register for classes this semester by the deadline of August 12th and the additional $5,000 is needed to complete the Spring

Why It Matters

Every semester, I’ve had to fight to stay enrolled, juggling tuition deadlines, registration holds, mental health struggles, grief and financial pressure. At first, I paid out of pocket. Then came the loans. Now, I’ve reached the limit of what I can carry alone.

Spelman has given me all they can, and I’ve applied to scholarships without success. I’m not searching for a handout, I’m asking for a chance. A chance to finish what I started, a chance to cross the stage with my sisters and walk under the arch, knowing I made it despite everything life has thrown my way.

Life has been incredibly humbling, I never thought I'd be making a go fund me post. I never thought I’d be finishing college without my mother. I’ve battled putting this up for months as I’ve had conflicting feelings asking other struggling people to fund my education, especially during such trying times.

Your support isn’t just financial, it’s a vote of confidence in a young woman who’s fighting for her future. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for being a part of my journey in any way you can.

With deep love and gratitude,

Cherish <3