My boyfriend is one of the most hardworking, patient, and kind people I know. He’s currently away at college on a full-ride scholarship at an HBCU, almost six hours from his mother. He’s only 18 years old and will be turning 19 in June. He graduated high school with a 4.0 GPA (maybe even higher!) and has always kept his grades up—he’s had straight A’s for as long as I’ve known him, and I’ve never seen him get a C or a D. I’m so proud of everything he’s accomplished, but there’s one thing that’s been really tough for him—getting around without a car. He recently got his license, but saving up for a car has been hard for him and his mom, who works so hard to support him. Every time he needs to go somewhere, whether it’s to get groceries or just to handle everyday college life, he has to ask for rides. I can see how much it weighs on him, even though he’s always so grateful and never complains. The distance also makes it hard for him to visit his mom, and travel is expensive without a car, sometimes even requiring a hotel stay.

He’s been trying to get a job to help his mother because he doesn’t want to burden her with the cost of a car, but balancing work and college is a lot to handle. I know firsthand how much of a difference having a car can make in college. It took me a while to get mine, and I was lucky to have help from financial aid, but my boyfriend hasn’t had the same opportunity. He’s incredibly responsible, smart, and takes pride in everything he has. I want to help take this burden off his shoulders. With your support, we can help him and his mom get a reliable car—nothing fancy, just something that will help him get to class, buy groceries, and visit his mom without having to rely on others. It would mean the world to both of them to have this independence and peace of mind.