This August, I’m hoping to begin my one-year Master’s in Arts Politics at NYU Tisch, a step I’ve been working toward for the last couple of years.

I left my home in Pakistan when I was 18 and have been fully financially independent ever since. I put myself through most of my undergraduate degree while learning how to build a life on my own in a new country.

Growing up in Pakistan, I never took the importance of education lightly, I saw the sacrifices families made for their children. All my work and education has been dedicated to the fact. This degree is the next step in a journey I started alone at 18, and i'm asking for help completing it not just for myself, but for community back at home and abroad.

While I’ve received $37,800 in scholarships from NYU, there’s still a remaining gap of $45,100 that I need to cover before I can realistically start this fall. I’m doing everything I can to make it possible (working two jobs, dog walking, cat-sitting, freelance writing), but I can’t close that gap alone. Self-funding a degree while living paycheck-to-paycheck in a city like New York isn’t for the faint of heart. I currently work at a democracy reform think tank, and starting this program would mean stepping away from that stability to invest in something longer-term.

What I’m working toward is a career that sits at the intersection of public policy and the arts, using creative work to make complex political issues more accessible, and to engage people in conversations around human rights and social justice in ways that policy alone often can’t. That’s why this degree feels important to me beyond just personal growth. I want to be able to contribute to work that not only analyzes systems, but also reaches people through cultural spaces, historical archives, and creative projects that make these issues visible and tangible.

The support I’m asking for will go directly toward tuition, rent, books, and basic living expenses while I’m in school. Being able to start this program with some financial stability would make a real difference. It would allow me to fully commit to the work and take advantage of opportunities that simply aren’t possible when you’re constantly trying to stay afloat. Without additional support, there’s a real chance I won’t be able to start this program this fall. I’ve always tried to figure things out on my own, but at this point, I know that getting to this next step will take more than just me. If you’re able to contribute or share this, it would truly mean a lot. You’re not just helping me get through school, you’re supporting the kind of work I hope to build and contribute to long-term.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

Best,

Shanze