Help Me Complete My Master’s and Serve Veterans

Hi everyone,

This summer, I’ve been blessed with the incredible opportunity to intern with the Veterans Association in Palo Alto, CA, as part of my Master’s program in Special Education with an Option in Orientation & Mobility at Cal State LA.

This internship is a necessary step toward completing my degree and becoming a specialist who helps people with blindness or low vision regain their independence. As a first-generation graduate student, this journey means everything to me, and it represents a chance to give back to folks with the ability and knowledge I've been blessed with to see clearly and create paths for others to follow.

However, this exciting next chapter comes with a few challenges. I will need to relocate to Northern California for the summer, and securing affordable housing near Stanford (where the VA campus is located) has been overwhelming. Balancing school, the internship, relocation, and living expenses has been a lot to take on financially.

I'm asking for any support—whether financial, advice, housing leads, or even words of encouragement—as I prepare to take this leap.

Your support will help cover:

Temporary summer housing near Stanford/Palo Alto

Relocation costs (gas, travel, moving expenses)

Basic living expenses during the internship

School-related materials and any professional certifications

This experience will allow me to serve veterans directly, provide specialized training in orientation and mobility, and complete the final requirement of my master’s degree.

Anything helps—thank you for helping me walk this path with purpose, heart, and service.

With gratitude,

KJ

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Thank you all so much! UPDATE