Help Me Finish College After Overcoming Housing Instability

This fund ensures tuition stays covered so a resilient student can complete college

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11 donors
0% complete

$630 raised of 

Help Me Finish College After Overcoming Housing Instability

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My Story

I’m a non-traditional college student working full-time while pursuing my degree at California State University, Northridge. My path to higher education has not been linear—I have experienced homelessness and struggled with addiction, and rebuilding my life to reach this point has taken years of effort and commitment.

Today, I am stable, employed, and focused on finishing my education. Since 2022, I have worked as the student government accountant at Associated Students, UCLA, where I support student initiatives and engage directly with the campus community.

I am majoring in Sociology with a minor in Criminology and Justice Studies, and I plan to continue on to a master’s degree in Forensic Psychology. My goal is to work in areas addressing addiction, inequality, and the systems that impact vulnerable populations.

Why I Need Help

I am fully self-supporting, working 40 hours a week while covering all of my living expenses. Despite this, tuition—especially for summer courses—remains a major barrier.

Asking for help is incredibly humbling. I’ve worked hard to become independent, and it’s not easy to put myself in this position. But I’ve also learned that accepting support when needed is part of continuing to move forward.

Because I am not a traditional student, I do not qualify for many scholarships that prioritize incoming freshmen or direct transfers. This leaves me in a gap where I am doing everything I can, but still need support to finish my degree.

My Goal

I am raising funds to cover tuition so I can stay on track to graduate. Every contribution directly supports my ability to continue school while working full-time.

Why This Matters

Finishing my degree represents stability, long-term opportunity, and the ability to give back. I’ve worked hard to rebuild my life, and I’m now close to the finish line.

If you’re able to contribute or share this page, I truly appreciate it.

Organizer

Joshua Emmanuel Shaw
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA

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