Help Melissa go to Graduate School
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Section I - About the Fundraiser (Versión en español abajo)
Hey everyone, my name is Melissa Velasquez. I am 23 years old, and I was born and raised in El Salvador. I am finishing my undergraduate studies in Economics at Earlham College, and I have recently been accepted to the Master in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning program at Tufts University. This is a dream come true for me and an opportunity that I am incredibly excited about, but I need your help to make this dream become reality.
The Urban Planning Department at Tufts University is offering me a full-tuition scholarship that covers the total cost of the graduate program. I am beyond grateful for this scholarship; however, expenses like housing, health insurance, food, and graduate fees are not covered by the scholarship. For the two years of the program, I would need approximately $40,000 (see the cost breakdown in section III) to cover these expenses and be able to attend Tufts University.
Unfortunately, neither my family nor I have the financial ability to cover these expenses. While I hope to contribute to some of the expenses by working while studying and doing an internship during the summer of 2023, I would still need a total of $20,000 that I am not able to make as a full time student. Getting this funding before this coming summer is critical for me as I need to re-apply for my international student visa, where I have to show proof of funding in order to be approved.
The Urban Planning Department at Tufts University is offering me a full-tuition scholarship that covers the total cost of the graduate program. I am beyond grateful for this scholarship; however, expenses like housing, health insurance, food, and graduate fees are not covered by the scholarship. For the two years of the program, I would need approximately $40,000 (see the cost breakdown in section III) to cover these expenses and be able to attend Tufts University.
Unfortunately, neither my family nor I have the financial ability to cover these expenses. While I hope to contribute to some of the expenses by working while studying and doing an internship during the summer of 2023, I would still need a total of $20,000 that I am not able to make as a full time student. Getting this funding before this coming summer is critical for me as I need to re-apply for my international student visa, where I have to show proof of funding in order to be approved.
Therefore, I am doing this fundraiser to ask you if you could help me make my dream of attending Tufts University and getting a Masters Degree in Urban Planning a reality. Any help towards this fundraiser will get me a step closer to fulfilling this dream.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your donations and for sharing my fundraiser. This means the world to me.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for your donations and for sharing my fundraiser. This means the world to me.
Section II - About me
Growing up in El Salvador was never easy. I always lived in "alert mode," trying to do everything right to keep myself safe in one of the world's most dangerous countries. The economic turmoil of my country forced financial hardship onto my family, pushing me to search for better educational opportunities and safer environments outside of the country.
At the early age of 17, I left my family and my country when I was awarded a full scholarship to finish my high school in Armenia, where I attended the United World College of Dilijan. In 2018, I received a full scholarship to complete my undergraduate studies at Earlham College. I decided to pursue a career in Economics to become a professional that not only fulfills personal desires but that works to empower and respond to the socio-economic needs of the communities I find myself in. From collaborating with Earlham Student Government to lobbying in DC in favor of undocumented Latinos in the US, to drafting the first Climate Action Plan (CAP) of Richmond, I have worked hard to give back to the communities I am in.
My bachelors' in economics and my civic engagement have shown me that racial injustices are not a mere coincidence; instead, public policy and planning have perpetuated patterns of inequality, but I hope to use them as tools to dismantle racial and social injustices. As a Latina woman of color, I want to be part of this change and work to construct communities of dignity and justice. I will be happy wherever I can help others thrive, and I have no doubt that the Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Program at Tufts will make this professional goal a reality.
At the early age of 17, I left my family and my country when I was awarded a full scholarship to finish my high school in Armenia, where I attended the United World College of Dilijan. In 2018, I received a full scholarship to complete my undergraduate studies at Earlham College. I decided to pursue a career in Economics to become a professional that not only fulfills personal desires but that works to empower and respond to the socio-economic needs of the communities I find myself in. From collaborating with Earlham Student Government to lobbying in DC in favor of undocumented Latinos in the US, to drafting the first Climate Action Plan (CAP) of Richmond, I have worked hard to give back to the communities I am in.
My bachelors' in economics and my civic engagement have shown me that racial injustices are not a mere coincidence; instead, public policy and planning have perpetuated patterns of inequality, but I hope to use them as tools to dismantle racial and social injustices. As a Latina woman of color, I want to be part of this change and work to construct communities of dignity and justice. I will be happy wherever I can help others thrive, and I have no doubt that the Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Program at Tufts will make this professional goal a reality.
Section III - Breakdown of the Costs of Living
Total Costs of Living in Medford, Massachusetts
- Rent $1,050/month. $25,200 for two years of study
- Food $300/month. $7,200 for two years of study
- Health insurance: $1,300/year. $2,600 for two years of study
- Tufts Comprehensive Health Fee: $960/year. $1,920 for two years of study
- Tufts Graduate Student Council Fee: $62/year. $124 for the two years of study
Total cost for 2 years of the program: $37,044
My contribution:
- Working while studying + doing an internship during the summer: $17,000
Total amount needed:
- $37,044 - $17,00 = 20,044
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL
Sección I - Sobre la recaudación de fondos
Hola a todos, mi nombre es Melissa Velásquez, tengo 23 años y soy de El Salvador. Actualmente, estoy terminando mis estudios universitarios en Economía en Earlham College en Estados Unidos. Recientemente fui aceptada en el Programa de Posgrado de Política y Planificación Urbana y Ambiental en la Universidad de Tufts que se encuentra en Boston.Para mi, esto es un sueño hecho realidad y una oportunidad por la cual estoy increíblemente entusiasmada y agradecida, pero necesito de su ayuda para que este se cumpla.
El Departamento de Planificación Urbana de la Universidad de Tufts me ofrece una beca completa que cubre el costo total del programa de posgrado. Sin embargo, la beca no cubre otros gastos como vivienda, seguro médico, alimentación y matrículas de posgrado. Para los dos años del programa, necesitaría un aproximado de $40,000 (ver el desglose de costos en la sección III) para cubrir estos gastos y poder asistir a la Universidad de Tufts.
Desafortunadamente, ni mi familia ni yo tenemos la capacidad financiera para cubrir estos gastos. Si bien espero contribuir con algunos de los gastos trabajando mientras estudio y haciendo una pasantía durante el verano de 2023, todavía necesitaría un total de $20,000 que no puedo ganar como estudiante a tiempo completo. Obtener estos fondos antes del próximo verano es fundamental para mí, ya que necesito volver a aplicar para mi visa de estudiante internacional y para que sea aprobada debo mostrar prueba de financiación de mis estudios.
Por lo tanto, estoy haciendo esta recaudación de fondos para pedirles de su ayuda para hacer mi sueño de asistir a la Universidad de Tufts y obtener una Maestría en Planificación Urbana realidad. Toda donación me ayudará a estar un paso más cerca de cumplir este sueño.
Desde el fondo de mi corazón, muchas gracias por sus donaciones y por compartir mi recaudación de fondos. Esto significa mucho para mí!
Sección II - Sobre mí
Crecer en El Salvador nunca fue fácil. Siempre viví en "modo de alerta", tratando de hacer todo bien para mantenerme a salvo en uno de los países más peligrosos del mundo. Durante los últimos años, la crisis económica de mi país ha provocado dificultades financieras en mi familia, lo que me empujó a buscar mejores oportunidades educativas y entornos más seguros fuera del país.
A la temprana edad de 17 años, dejé a mi familia y mi país cuando me otorgaron una beca completa para terminar mi bachillerato en Armenia, donde asistí al Colegio del Mundo Unido de Dilijan. En 2018, recibí una beca completa para realizar mis estudios universitarios en Earlham College. Decidí estudiar la carrera en Economía para ser una profesional que no solo cumpla con objetivos propios, sino que trabaje para empoderar y responder a las necesidades socioeconómicas de las comunidades en las que me encuentro. Durante los últimos años, he trabajado duro para retribuir a las comunidades en las que he estado. Parte de estas actividades incluyen la colaboración con el Gobierno Estudiantil de Earlham, cabildeo en Washington D.C. en favor de latinos indocumentados en los EE. UU., y la redacción del primer Plan de Acción Climática de Richmond, Indiana.
Mi licenciatura en economía y mi compromiso cívico me ha demostrado que las injusticias sociales no son una mera coincidencia; en cambio, la política pública y la planificación urbana han perpetuado patrones de desigualdad, pero yo espero usarlos como herramientas para desmantelar las injusticias raciales y sociales. Como mujer latinoamericana, quiero ser parte de este cambio y trabajar para construir comunidades de dignidad y justicia. Seré feliz donde sea que pueda ayudar a otros a prosperar, y no tengo ninguna duda de que el Programa de Planificación y Política Urbana y Ambiental de Tufts hará realidad esta meta profesional.
Sección III - Desglose del Costo de Vida
Costo total de vida en Medford, Massachusetts:
-Renta $1,050/mes. $25,200 por dos años de estudio
-Comida $300/mes. $7,200 por dos años de estudio
-Seguro médico: $1,300/año. $2,600 por dos años de estudio
-Tarifa integral de salud de Tufts: $960/año. $1,920 por dos años de estudio
-Tarifa del Consejo de Estudiantes de Posgrado de Tufts: $62 / año. $124 por los dos años de estudio
Costo total por 2 años del programa: $37,044
Mi contribución:
-Trabajar mientras estudias + hacer una pasantía durante el verano: $17,000
Cantidad total necesaria:
-$37,044 - $17,00 = 20,044
De nuevo, muchas gracias por su apoyo. Para los que estén interesados, estaré publicando actualizaciones semanales para compartir con todos ustedes cómo va la recaudación de fondos.
Organizer
Melissa Velásquez
Organizer
Richmond, IN