Help Milaj Finish His Education At Morehouse

My name is Milaj Robinson and I am an aspiring junior political science major attending Morehouse College from Philadelphia, Pa. Becoming a Morehouse Man has been my dream since I was 16. Morehouse College served as a strong source of inspiration for me, as I got to witness and experience black excellence firsthand. My first year of college was pretty challenging for me as I endured many hardships. A lack of access to in-person instruction due to the COVID-19 pandemic combined with the absence of a stable learning environment stunted my motivation. Resultantly, I averaged a 1.8 for my first year. Despite getting off to a rough start, I was determined to succeed academically. By studying and surrounding myself with like-minded individuals, the following year, I managed to maintain a 3.27 GPA. Recovering from academic probation taught me that I am resilient and possess the ability to tackle every obstacle that comes my way.

My dream career has been to be elected as a state senator for a very long time. I want to expand my organization worldwide and change the conditions of my city and the world. I believe bridging the gap between the social and economic disparities within the African American community is essential. As a state senator, I want to create a better education system for urban districts, fund non-profit and community service-based organizations, create scholarships for minorities, and increase resources for black businesses.

Growing up in an impoverished and criminalized neighborhood, I aspire to make a change in my community. This is one of the key reasons I now serve as the CEO of Youth Creating New Beginnings. This non-profit organization serves and educates the inner city youth through civic engagement and community service. Through mentorship and guidance, we aim to help youth find their passion and explore new career choices.

Additionally, this past summer, I was granted the opportunity to intern at the Philadelphia Mayor's Office of the Black Male Engagement Department. This was a life-changing experience for me, as I collaborated with people from all over the city of Philadelphia, brainstorming ways to make a change in the community. In addition to planning various outreach events, I managed to generate thousands of viewers for the city’s social media outlets. By the close of my internship, I inspired 25 black men between 18-25 to work alongside me in the Mayor’s Commission of African American Males. Through this experience, I witnessed the ability I have to make an impact in my community truly. This inspires me to return to school as soon as possible so that I can graduate from my dream college and pursue my career goals.

Unfortunately, I now face the obstacle of figuring out how to pay for the rest of my college education. My family and I have struggled to pay my tuition for the past two years. Morehouse tuition is $50,000 per year. My financial aid only covers 14,000 dollars of my education, which requires me to pay $35,000 per year, and my family can not afford this. I came from a single-parent home and grew up alongside two siblings just as ambitious as myself. My mother does her best; however, in today’s economy, it has become increasingly challenging to find the money to fund various extracurricular activities while keeping food on the table and a roof over our heads. I have tried to apply for loans through financial aid, along with applying for loans on my own. However, I have not been successful. The hold Morehouse has placed on my account restricts me from applying for scholarships and grants due to my inability to access transcripts and other requested documentation.

Graduating from Morehouse College and officially achieving my goal of becoming a senator will set an example and symbolize hope for the children coming before me in my community. Many young Black men drop out of college due to a lack of funding and financial hardships. This motivated me to beat the odds and prevail; however, it is nearly impossible to persevere through this adversity without the support and loving people investing in my dream. If granted the opportunity, I will continue to work hard to remain in school by taking advantage of internships, grants, and scholarships. My mother will help fund my tuition as much as possible through a payment plan, and I plan to find minor yet effective ways of cutting costs, such as declining a meal plan and making cheaper home-cooked meals, for example. My passion for community service remains strong, and I refuse to let financial hardships prevent me from achieving my goal of becoming a state senator. I would be honored to further my opportunity to see this goal through by receiving donations.