Help Isaias Stay in School – Support a Future Storyteller

“Your kindness today keeps a young artist’s dream alive.”

Hi everyone,

My name is Isaias Ardila, and I’m a freshman at Southern Oregon University, majoring in Theater Performance and Film with a minor in Business. I’ve always dreamed of becoming an actor and storyteller, someone who brings people together through shared emotion, truth, and creativity.

Growing up in Salem-Keizer, my family taught me the values of resilience, kindness, and hard work. Acting became my way to express myself and to process the world it was my escape, my passion, and my purpose.

Right now, I’m facing a difficult setback. I owe $2,500 for this term, and I can’t finish registering for my next classes until the balance is paid in full. I’ve been working, managing my expenses carefully, and applying for every scholarship, FAFSA opportunity, and student loan I can find. But even after doing all that, I’ve come up short.

Recent federal budget cuts made by the U.S. Department of Education have reduced the amount of aid available to many college students like me. These cuts have made it harder for working-class and first-generation students to stay enrolled and focused on their goals.

I’m anxious about what this might mean for my academic progress, but I’m not giving up. I believe in taking responsibility, finding solutions, and asking for help when it’s truly needed.

Your support, in any amount, would help me pay off this balance, stay in school, and continue working toward my dream. Every dollar brings me closer to being able to keep studying, performing, and sharing stories that matter.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for believing in students like me who are working hard to build a better future.

With gratitude,

Isaias Ardila

Freshman – Southern Oregon University

Theater Performance & Film | Minor in Business