Hey y’all! As all of you already know, 2020 was a very hard year for billions around the world. Great suffering has been experienced all around the world. Covid-19 had taken so much from so many and has robbed us of the beauty of intimate embrace. 

What most of you also know is that right before 2020 began, I received very unfortunate news, a leukemia diagnosis. As this began to attack my throat and lungs, I never let it rob me of my joy. Early on in quarantine, I became of the earlier cases of Covid-19 in the United States. At the time, it was believed you could not get reinfected. Then it was discovered that not only did the antibodies go away after 6 months, but that there were almost 9 different mutations of Covid-19. I contracted Covid-19 once more, and that second bout with Covid-19 damaged my lungs and left me unable to taste for nearly 3 months afterwards. 

During this time, I’ve been a full-time college student switching from job to job, as each job I went to either had to close their doors due to Covid-19 or had to let me and several others go as they could no longer afford to pay so many people. As of right now I’m unemployed and looking for a job, but regardless of the rate I manage to get at this point, I will be unable to pay for last month’s rent and this month’s rent. If I miss one more month of rent, I’ll be kicked out of my apartment and be forced to live and go to school in my car.

My family has been so kind as to offer to pay for my medical bills and my school books as long as I come up with the other costs, that I don’t live at home, and that I pay for all other living expenses. I currently have a bulky private loan from ElmSelect covering the majority of my semester charges as well as some academic scholarships assisting me in lowering the overall cost to be at college, but there’s still about $2800 I’ll owe for this semester that I have no idea how to come up with. If I don’t come up with that by the end of February, then I’ll have to leave college. I have to pay $1200 between all 3 months of rent that’s due. If I can manage to pay of rent for last month, this month, and next month, then I will be able to stay in my apartment for the remainder of the semester. The remaining $300 is to be able to buy groceries, cover gas for one month, and have something to my name in the event of an emergency. There are other expenses, but they are not expenses that I would ever choose to allow others to pay for, as there’s a line I won’t cross.

As some of you know, I avoided making one of these for a very long time, as I felt it would be so selfish of me to make something like this when there are human beings out there living in far worse conditions than my own, and I would rather their money go to those people. After talking with dozens of my friends, coworkers, and family members, I’ve come to the conclusion that to avoid sleeping in my car and to continue pursuing my dream of finishing college and getting my dream job, I need to make it through this season of life that I’m in.

If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this with someone you know who you think can donate. To those who’ve supported me, helped me, and given me counsel during this very difficult season of life, I want you to know that you mean the world to me. My soul is so much brighter and excited about life knowing that there are people rooting me on and supporting me through this! 

As always, much love to everyone! 
- Kine ❤️