Help Maricela, a DACA Student, Graduate

My Story

I once believed college was an unattainable dream for an undocumented student like me. Born in Naucalpan de Juárez, Mexico, I emigrated with my mother to the San Fernando Valley at just one-year-old. Despite her fifth-grade education, my mother tirelessly sought resources to support my academic journey. At Los Angeles Valley College (LAVC), A counselor introduced me to the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) and AB540 waiver, making higher education possible. That moment shaped my passion for educational counseling—ensuring students like me have access to affordable education.

At LAVC, I became an advocate for undocumented students, leading efforts to expand the Dream Resource Center and serving in student government. I established the Code Pink program to address menstrual equity and lobbied at the California Capitol for Dream Center funding. These experiences transformed me from feeling invisible to becoming an agent of change.

As a transfer student at UC Davis, I continued my advocacy through research, studying how undocumented mothers support their first-generation college daughters. Now, as a graduate student at USC’s Educational Counseling program, I aim to expand this work and uplift Chicanas, Latinas, and undocumented voices.

Why I Need Your Support

As a DACA recipient, I am ineligible for federal financial aid and must rely solely on scholarships and private funding. While I’ve secured a $30,000 Rossier Scholarship and a $5,000 Latino Alumni Association scholarship, they do not cover summer tuition. My tuition is $17,158 per semester, broken into five $3,931 payments. My brother, who works over 80 hours a week in extreme weather as a pool technician, covers half of my monthly expenses while also paying our mortgage and household bills. I cover the rest with my part-time internship, but my maxed-out credit card is taking a toll on my financial stability. With my mother facing upcoming knee surgery, she is unable to work, increasing our financial strain.

I have exhausted all available scholarship opportunities and cannot afford the $14,000 summer tuition due May 16th. I aim to raise $14,000 by May 14th, with an initial milestone of $7,000 by April 21st.

How Your Contribution Helps

Your support will allow me to focus on my research and thesis without the financial burden threatening my graduate education. Once I meet my tuition goal, I plan to transform this fundraiser into a scholarship for individuals who have made a meaningful impact within the undocumented community. With the guidance of my faculty and peers, I will ensure this initiative creates lasting change.

Call to Action

Trojan Network & Educational Counseling Community: Let’s advocate for sustainable scholarships and resources for undocumented graduate students at USC. Help me make a difference!

Other ways to donate:

Cash App: $MariFightOn

XicanxVibeTiendita: https://www.redbubble.com/people/XicanxVibe/shop?asc=u

Together, let’s fight on! ✊