Help Fernanda Pay for Aerospace Degree!

My name is Fernanda Galvez and I am a junior aerospace engineering major from Carrollton, Texas but most importantly I am the Loudest and Proudest Member of the Fighting Texas Aggie Class of 2024.

Since childhood, I have been fascinated with rocketry and space exploration. This has fueled a growing desire in me to become an Astronautical Engineer and I will be a proud first-gen college graduate. 

I was born in Torreón, Coahuila, México, was raised there until the age of 9, when my whole world changed. While my dad had been unemployed for 2 years due to a severe economic crisis, the crime immensely rose all throughout the country. But in 2011, my dad found a job that offered a work visa to come to the United States. We took the leap and came to this amazing but unknown country with only a suitcase, leaving behind everything and not knowing anyone here.

On my first day of 4th grade in America, I heard a mixture of Spanish and English. At first, everything was frustrating because I didn’t understand the language nor the school system, especially math. The transition was hard. Everything was immensely different from what I’d known all my life.

The only option was to adapt and appreciate what life threw at us. Although strangers surrounded me, I began to make friends and met teachers that wanted to help me. Math started to fascinate me, and slowly English became second nature to me. I had fallen in love with this country and all the magnificent opportunities it offered.

Here I am now, ready to earn my Bachelors of Science in Aerospace Engineering. But sadly my dad’s work visa has no path to US permanent residency nor citizenship, and I couldn’t apply to be a Dreamer (DACA) because I’ve always had a legal status in the country. Being a dependent of his visa has caused many other difficulties: I am not allowed to work or receive any financial aid, including FAFSA. My dream is to finish my degree so I can be hired by a company that would be willing to sponsor me with a work visa, this way I could stay in the country I call home and not have to return to Mexico when I turn 21 years old as I would not be a dependent of my dad anymore. Now, the biggest challenge is applying for scholarships, especially STEM-related because most require at least permanent residency. I have sought out tons of scholarships and opportunities with no luck for several years. Yet, all of these obstacles have not diminished my passion for aerospace, and I continue doing my best everyday, that’s why I have a 4.00 GPA at Texas A&M.

Just to provide some information, a semester at Texas A&M University costs $6,786 (only tuition). As I plan to do 4 semesters at TAMU (an engineering degree takes 4.5 years), tuition will amount to $27,000. This amount does not take into consideration living costs or books.

I am asking for your help so I can finish college and become a productive member of society. Thank you so much for reading about my life and giving me these few minutes of your time because they mean the world to me. From the bottom of my heart, I know that anything is possible through your support, however big or small.

If you would like to know more about me and my experience, you can visit my portfolio website bit.ly/fernandagalvez.

Thank you

Sincerely,

Fernanda Galvez Orozco

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