My name is Nancy Guerland, a graduate of Stanford University and a retired healthcare executive. After moving to Massachusetts from California in 2020 to help my own daughter care for her two daughters during the pandemic, I subsequently sought out organizations that might use my extra time and energy.

I was introduced to Dayanie Mejia through a local branch of “School on Wheels Massachusetts”, an organization whose mission it is to support the academic, social, and emotional growth of students impacted by homelessness and poverty. I have been mentoring Dayanie for the past year, offering her guidance and advice as this ambitious young lady, now in her sophomore year in college, strives to overcome the many obstacles of life on her own.

Like many with limited resources and little or no parental assistance, Dayanie is facing a critical financial gap between her college expenses and her financial resources. She is a good person and a hard worker, sings in her church choir and teaches Sunday School, and has demonstrated perseverance and resilience. She deserves aid to allow her to stay in school and finish her education and I thank you for reading her story below and considering making a donation on her behalf. All funds raised will go directly to tuition and other direct educational expenses.

The challenge of financing my college education is proving to be too much. I need help.

My name is Dayanie Mejia and I am facing a critical need for financial assistance to continue my college education. I am a sophomore at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences pursuing my Bachelor of Science in Radiation Therapy. As the first in my family to attend college, I am proud of my success to date and the opportunities available to me in healthcare. I completed a full track of healthcare courses in high school which led me to want to provide compassionate care to cancer patients and impact their lives in a meaningful way. I feel that is my calling.

Although I qualified for several grants and scholarships, a portion of the financial assistance I received as a freshman is non-recurring, which creates my dilemma. I have a full course load scheduled for the 2024-25 academic year plus I work part-time. I tried to apply for a small private loan through Sallie Mae but I do not have a parental co-signer. My mother passed when I was a child and I receive no financial or emotional support from my father. Sadly, mine is a situation faced by many, but I am determined to succeed.

As defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, I am considered independent and unaccompanied since I experienced homelessness as a child before my mother passed. My father has never provided any support so I am on my own. My aunt supports and encourages me emotionally but is the sole provider financially for her own children. I worked full-time last summer to earn as much as I can but had to move to part-time status once my classes began in September. Despite all my efforts, I will still be short of the funds needed to finance my second year of college.

Any financial support you can provide would be greatly appreciated and will go directly to tuition and books, which are over $40,000 per year. My scholarships and part-time work will bring me about $20,000. If you are not able to contribute at this time, please share this link with your friends and family; it would mean the world to me and help me complete my education so I can continue to be a productive member of society and contribute to others.

Thank you!