Hi, my name is Kayla. I'm a university student in my fifth year, at the tail end of completing my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. The effects of COVID-19 (and various other personal hardships along the way) have affected my family's ability to afford basic living expenses, much less my education. I've been struggling to pay off my remaining balance for Fall 2021, which is in turn preventing my ability to enroll for Winter and Spring 2022. Because of this, my educational career has come to a screeching halt unless I can come up with the means necessary to afford my final few months of university education. I have exhausted every option available to help pay this off, yet my efforts have proven ineffective. As it stands, the only option I have left is to come up with the money out-of-pocket.

As a first-generation college student, I have fought tooth and nail to navigate higher education on my own, and strive greatly to create a better life for myself despite the factors that have been stacked against me. It has been heart-wrenching to see the anguish of parents who have been struggling to survive for my past 22 years of life, and it hurts even more seeing that this inability to afford college has added much more pain and feelings of hopelessness to their already overloaded plates, especially as we face the possibility of losing our only home. I want to honor the sacrifices my parents have made by making sure that I am one step closer to leading the better life they have always wanted for me.

 

I've been receiving professional mental health services for the better part of 2 years through my university, as I can’t afford it externally, and I’m terrified of losing it immediately if my status as a student is nullified at this point in my mental health journey. With only a handful of months left until my degree is completed, it has been devastating to come to terms with the fact that I might not be able to achieve what I've invested so many years working toward, knowing I’m so close to the finish line. I have tried to remain optimistic about my current situation, but I can't say that this hasn't greatly affected my existing mental health struggles knowing I may not ever be able to complete this important and necessary life milestone.

 

My sole goal is to simply complete this chapter in my life so I can move forward onto the next in hopes of achieving the career goals I've only ever dreamed of. The future may be wildly uncertain, but I want to be certain about this one thing: receiving my Bachelor’s degree.

If you aren't able to donate, please share this with those who wouldn't mind contributing to a hardworking first-gen college student's dreams of creating a better life for herself through the world of art and design. Any and all help is immensely appreciated. If you've taken the time to read this far, Thank you <3