Hi, I’m Gretchen, and I’m raising funds to help me through a very difficult season in graduate school. I’m currently an architecture graduate student, a path I chose after leaving a career in the film industry to follow my dream of creating human- and earth-centered design. I want to help create buildings that are healthy for the people who inhabit them and for the earth they stand on.

The reality is that this program is incredibly intensive and expensive. Both of my parents have passed away, and I’m navigating graduate school without parental financial support. My dad died just a year ago, and I’m still carrying that grief while trying to keep up with school, rent, and everyday bills.

Financial uncertainty affects my daily life, including worrying about how to afford both groceries and rent. As I continue through graduate school and prepare for graduation, support would give me breathing room, help me stay housed and fed, and allow me to focus on school with less fear about how I’ll make it through the next month.

Funds raised will go toward rent, utilities, groceries, and transportation, with November and December expenses as my immediate priority. Any remaining funds would provide a modest cushion for essential living expenses as I continue toward graduation.

One-time donations would make an immediate difference, and recurring support would help me manage ongoing essential expenses with more stability. Any contribution or share would mean so much.

Asking for help isn’t easy, and I’m grateful to everyone who takes the time to read my story. I hope that, in the future, I can give back to my community and offer others the support you’re offering me. Thank you.