Help Sam with Masters fees

Hi All,

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Sam. I have run a queer events agency for the past couple of years called Sam's Collective.

For those of you who do, hi :)

As a kid, every time someone would ask me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I would reply with “help people”. I have spent the majority of my adult life volunteering to pursue that dream. (If you want to know more about this I will put a list below). However, while volunteering, I found myself limited by the qualifications I had.

So… I have decided to go back to college!! I have been accepted into a masters program to become a Therapist. A dream I have had for a really long time.

And while I thought the odd’s were low that I would get accepted into the masters because my bachelors degree is not related to psychotherapy, I got in!! I got in because of all of those volunteering roles I have done, and because of the work I have put into my own mental health over my lifetime.

My mental health journey has been quite a long one. The most recent hurdle was when I moved home from New York, totally burnt out and in need of help. It was the therapists in my life that helped me to turn that around, as well as the mental health advocacy and volunteering work I did at that time.

It was also during this time that I started Sam’s Collective.

I originally started it as a one off event, but it grew and blossomed into something much bigger.

My aim was to create safe spaces for the queer and neurodivergent communities, and we have, with the help of this wonderful community, managed to create something really special. But as I continued on doing this, I realised I wanted to help more. I was signposting people to different organisations, and I felt the frustration along with them when we would make remarks like ‘those places are not built for us’. It made me want to help create a space that IS meant for ‘people like us’. So it brings me back to college. I had a lot of encouragement from some good people in my life and I applied and got accepted into the masters!

My reason for this GoFundMe is; as much as I would love to not have to ask for help…I need it. Sam’s Collective is a wonderful space, but it has always been community focused and as such, was never modeled to generate profit. And as I am thinking about starting college, I am asking for your help. Whether it be the price of a cup of coffee or anything! Every cent will help. For those of you who read this and would like to, but are not able to donate, your well wishes mean just as much to me. (Also a share goes a long way!!)

Thank you for reading this far, I will put in the statements of my volunteering roles for anyone who is interested below.

But for now,

Thank you so much for your time, donations and/or well wishes!!! (All donations will be used to directly cover the costs of my tuition fees.)

I’m off to study,

Sam

Volunteer Roles:

One of my most meaningful experiences was with Outsmart NYC, where I got to work alongside some incredible folks dedicated to preventing sexual violence in nightlife. Under the guidance of Eric McGriff, I learned the ins and outs of training bar staff on everything from sexual harassment to bystander intervention. It was tough, but it lit a fire in me to keep fighting for those who need it most.

Then I found myself at the Crime Victims Treatment Centre (CVTC), showing up for people who have experienced sexual and intimate partner violence in hospital emergency departments. Those two years of on-call shifts and intensive training were eye-opening and reaffirmed my calling to pursue formal qualifications to better serve my community.

Back in Dublin in 2019, I kept the momentum going with the School Completion Program, helping at-risk kids overcome educational hurdles. And my work with the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, especially with the We-Consent Campaign, showed me the power of promoting consent education and advocacy.

But it doesn't stop there. As an event facilitator with Sam's Collective, I've been able to merge my passion for mental health advocacy with my professional life. Whether it's hosting coffee mornings with SOSAD Ireland or collaborating on awareness initiatives, I'm all about creating safe spaces for folks to share, heal, and grow.

Now, I'm ready to take the next step in my journey: becoming a therapist. With your support, I can turn this dream into a reality. All donations will be used to directly cover the costs of my tuition fees.

Together, we can keep spreading kindness, empathy, and understanding—the very essence of Sam's Collective—in a whole new way.

Thank you for believing in me.

Warmly,

Sam