Help Mariana Fulfill Her DREAM.

My name is Mariana Benitez, I am a Venezuelan immigrant of Cuban descent. In 2001, my parents decided to move to Puerto Rico because of political tension and poor conditions in the country. This made it possible for me to qualify for DACA when it was implemented in 2012. Since being a little girl, it has been my dream to work in the healthcare and public health professional field. While it has not always been easy, I have been granted a number of opportunities that have paved my way to getting to where I am today. The 2020/2021 school year is my final year of schooling and my last year in my masters program of infectious disease  in the University of Pittsburgh Public Health Program. Last semester I was able to covered my financial expenses with some money collected from the past fundraising and financial help from my university. As a dreamer, and a DACA recipient, obtaining a loan to pay for my schooling is not as easy as it is for a native student. Most of my family members are immigrants. Therefore, it makes it difficult to find a cosigner and for them to be able to get loans as well. With that being said, I have run out of available options to apply for loans and to have an eligible co-signer. I have created this GoFundMe in hopes that I can raise enough money to cover my tuition expenses for my last semester. I am currently working on my thesis project and I will like to finish it next semester. Being that I am an Infectious Diseases major and in the time of COVID-19, I hope to graduate and make a difference in any way that I can. Anything helps and anything is appreciated.