Hello everyone, my name is Elsie, and I’m 18 years old.

I never imagined that at 18, I would be asking people for help to give me a second chance at my education and my future.

I’m sharing my story because I’ve recently found an opportunity that could allow me to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor, but unfortunately, the financial cost is something I cannot manage on my own.

During Year 12, my family went through an incredibly difficult period. My dad was in hospital for much of the time and was unable to work, which meant that I had to step up to help support my dad and my younger sister. I was working two jobs alongside trying to keep up with sixth form, while also taking care of my sister and helping my family however I could.

As you can imagine, trying to balance two jobs, family responsibilities and school became overwhelming. I simply didn’t have the time or energy to study properly, and my attendance began to suffer.

When I reached Year 13, my tutor spoke to me and explained that I couldn’t continue the way I was. I was told that I needed to leave my jobs and focus on my education because Year 13 was such an important year.

I understood completely, but the reality was that I couldn’t afford to stop working. My family needed the money, and at the time, I felt like I had no choice.

After talking things through with my dad, I made the incredibly difficult decision to leave sixth form.

It was a decision I had to make for my family at the time, but afterwards I was left feeling like I had thrown away my own future.

For a long time, I thought that dropping out meant my dream of becoming a doctor was over. I felt like I had missed my only opportunity and that there was no way back.

Thankfully, I started researching alternative routes and discovered something I had never even known existed: an Access to Higher Education Diploma.

An Access to HE Diploma is a one-year course designed to help people without traditional Level 3 qualifications progress to university. It can provide a route into medical school and give me another chance to work towards the future I once thought I had lost.

For the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful again.

There is just one major obstacle: the course costs around £1,500.

Because I am only 18, I don’t currently meet the age requirements for the student finance loan that could help cover the cost. Unfortunately, I don’t have £1,500 in savings, and after everything my family has been through, asking my dad to find that money simply isn’t realistic.

That’s why I’m asking for your help.

I know £1,500 is a lot of money, and I completely understand that not everyone is in a position to donate. Even if you can’t contribute financially, sharing my GoFundMe could make a huge difference.

Every donation, no matter how small, would take me one step closer to enrolling on this course and, hopefully, one day becoming the doctor I’ve always wanted to be.

I know I made mistakes and that my educational journey hasn’t gone the way I planned. But I also know that I was trying to do what I could for my family when they needed me most.

Now that my dad is thankfully out of hospital and recovering, I finally have the opportunity to focus on myself and rebuild my future.

If you’re able to donate, thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you can’t, sharing this page, sending it to someone who might be able to help, or simply leaving a kind message would mean more to me than you know.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story. ❤️