Help Me Continue My Education at Howard

Hello! I hope you are all staying safe and healthy during these times. My name is Celexia Wooten, I'm a criminology major and sociology minor from Jacksonville, Florida. I grew up in a single-parent household with my mother and three younger siblings. As a nurse, my mom works strenuous hours to provide for our family. Despite our struggles, I had an opportunity to attend one of the greatest universities in the country. The excitement soon turned into discouragement once we realized that my scholarship and loans would not cover the entirety of my cost of attendance. Ultimately, I enrolled at Howard, knowing it would be the best decision for my future.

Throughout my time at Howard, I suffered from a series of severe mental health issues, resulting in a hospitalization in the fall of 2018. This event forced me to withdraw from the university, rescinding my access to scholarships. I swiftly returned to Howard in the spring of 2019 to finish my coursework and obtain my degree. My hopes were met with disappointment after I was denied on-campus housing for the Fall 2019 semester. The off-campus living situation placed a financial strain on my family and led to my inability to cover my remaining tuition for the Fall 2019 semester.

After halting my Howard journey once again, I remained in Washington, DC during the Spring 2020 semester to pay off my balance and my rent. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused me to lose my job and return home to take care of my younger siblings since my mother is an essential worker. These hardships have added to the difficulty of paying off my balance and continuing my Howard journey. 

I know times are difficult for all of us right now, but I would tremendously appreciate anything that can help me pay off my balance and achieve my dream of graduating from Howard University. Thank you in advance! :)