Help Me Stay; Cottey and Me

Hi, my name is Jasmine. I am 23 years old, and I am a first-generation college student. Neither of my parents graduated high school and I need help to afford college. I am one of 10 kids in my household, and so far have been affording tuition on my own merits. This is my last semester and then I will be considered independent for financial aid. There is so much more that I can do if I can make it past this semester. Please help if you can, and in any way, you can.

So far in my college career, I have done my best to be as involved and engaged as I can and to take advantage of every opportunity and experience that has come my way. In theatre, I have been involved as an actress, running crew, seamstress, and technician in musicals, performances by hypnotists and comedians, a murder mystery, dance concerts, and more. Most recently, I was a leading actress in Eleemosynary - a three-person play.

On the leadership side, I am the Secretary of our college's Student Government Organization and next year, if I can continue, I will be the Second-Year Senator. I am also involved in Alpha Psi Omega and am a Golden Key student ambassador. I was one of 12 students selected for participation in an immersion trip to Chicago to visit the Illinois Holocaust Museum to learn from survivors as well as volunteer at the non-profit organization GirlForward. A year later, I was one of three students to attend the College Leadership Summit at the Illinois Holocaust Museum through grant funding.

This is my third semester here at Cottey College and there is still so much more that I can do.

Have a blessed day, ducks and daisies forever.