Hello, my name is Romina Reyes, and I am a Hartford student about to graduate from Farmington High School this June. I am honored to have been accepted to several wonderful universities, but my heart is set on Binghamton University in New York. I plan to study linguistics and pre-law, with the dream of attending law school and becoming an immigration lawyer in the future. As a first-generation college student, I am proud to be the first in my family to take this step and hope to inspire my younger nieces, cousins, and other girls from low-income immigrant families who are also the first to pursue higher education.

I have worked hard to be in the position I am now and I am so very grateful to be in it. I am a member of the Spanish National Honor Society and National Art Honor Society at my school. Since attending Farmington High School, I have received first honors and always made sure to understand all my classes the best I can. Although I have received some scholarship support and my parents are doing everything they can, we are still unable to cover the full cost of my first year at Binghamton. Because I am not a New York resident, I do not qualify for in-state tuition or the extra assistance available to local students. The financial gap is significant, and I am worried about the burden of debt that could come with pursuing my dreams. Binghamton offers incredible research and internship opportunities that will help me grow and advance my career, and I am determined to make the most of this opportunity.

With your support, I will be able to cover essential expenses like tuition, housing, food, books, and any loans I may need to take out. Every contribution, no matter the size, brings me closer to my goal and helps relieve the financial stress on my family. I am deeply grateful for any help you can provide and for believing in my journey. Thank you for helping me take this important step toward becoming an immigration lawyer and making a difference in my community.