Help Melanie Finish Paying Her College Tuition

Hi there,

 

I appreciate every bit of help I can get. Please contribute to my cause. If you are not able at the moment, please help me spread the word. Thank you!

 

My name is Melanie. I am an international student from Mauritius, which is an island in the Indian Ocean, south east of Africa. I am doing a Bachelors in Environmental Studies at Gustavus Adolphus College in St Peter, Minnesota, USA. During my experience at Gustavus, I have done undergraduate research in water quality monitoring and oil spill response, interned for the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation as well as for a firm of sustainability consultants and social impact strategists. Before then, I volunteered for Eli Africa. Ever since I found purpose and meaning in environmental work, I have always been passionate and involved in solving environmental problems.

 

My mother did not graduate high school and has worked in a factory all her life. Her mother passed away when she was a teenager so my mother had to work and look after her 6 siblings. My mother never got to continue her education. When I was eight years old, my father passed away. He loved studying and would always be reading books. He was a professor and never stopped learning. When it was time for me to graduate high school, my mother was determined to send me to college. The only financial support I have is my grandmother and my mother but they were determined. Two strong women that have repeatedly known sacrifice and hard work to give me a college degree.

 

Four years ago, I came to study in the United States at the college that gave me the most scholarships. I was determined to work the most I can and do my utmost to contribute to financing my education. This meant working part-time while being a full-time student, doing multiple jobs, always looking out for the jobs that paid the most and even working during breaks. I sometimes overloaded in order to graduate early. Every choice I made, I was aware of my privilege and immense gratitude to be here.

 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, my mother had received an early retirement offer. With her years of service, this was the best option she was given. Still, she reassured me that she will look for other jobs and finish paying my college tuition. However, the pandemic situation in Mauritius kept getting worse, resulting in lockdowns, which means less and unstable work situations.

 

In a few days, I will be graduating but owing the college around $6,000. I am doing my best to find a job as soon as I can. At the same time, however, I need to pay for a place to stay next, pay back my loan and people I owe, pay for food, a vehicle and make sure to have enough money on our bank accounts so that the US/Mauritius Embassy allows my mother and grandmother to come to the US for my graduation. There are so many expenses and my family can’t support me right now. It is a very stressful financial situation.

 

Today, I am reaching out to you if you are able to help me. Every $ counts. Thank you for reading my story and for supporting my educational journey. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

 

Thank you. I appreciate you and your effort!