I’m One Semester Away from Graduation, but a Financial Hold May Stop Me from Finishing.

I never imagined that after years of late nights, countless exams, and endless perseverance, I would be this close to the finish line, only to be told I might not cross it. I am not the type to start a GoFundMe, express my burdens, or share details about my private life. I have always believed in working through my struggles quietly. But this situation has left me with no other choice. This truly is my last resort.

My brother and I are at the point where we are considering dropping out of college because we simply cannot afford our education. Never in our lives did we imagine facing this kind of struggle, nor did we ever think we would have to consider the option of dropping out of college for any reason. The thought alone breaks my heart after all the years of sacrifice, late nights, and hope that have brought us this far.

My name is Sharon Ojeiwa, and I am a first-generation student in the College of Business at UIC. I am just one semester away from graduating, but because of a financial hold on my account, I cannot register for my final classes. My registration time ticket opens on November 4th, and unless I can pay off my tuition balance, I will not be able to complete the degree I have worked for so many years to earn.

Earlier this semester, my younger brother and I experienced a devastating setback. Our FAFSA was unexpectedly revoked, and we have spent months trying to resolve it with the financial aid office, but the process has been slow and uncertain. Our aid was eventually revised, but we did not receive the amount we once had. Now, I am left with a balance of $13,440, and my brother owes $16,083. These balances have locked our accounts, leaving us unable to register for classes and pushing our dreams further out of reach.

As the oldest child and a first-generation college student, this has been one of the hardest moments of my life. My parents are doing everything they can, but they simply cannot help. Since moving to the United States, they have worked tirelessly, often on opposite schedules, just to keep food on the table. They have sacrificed endlessly, not only for us but also for relatives back home who depend on them. Growing up, I watched my parents work around the clock, often without rest, and I knew that their exhaustion was the price they paid to give us a better life.

For several years, our family of seven, including my grandmother, lived in a small apartment that was slowly falling apart. We were encouraged several times to move out, but we could not afford to. Only recently, after years of saving and perseverance, my parents were finally able to buy a modest home. It was their dream after a lifetime of instability and sacrifice. To make it happen, they took out significant loans and made many sacrifices along the way. It gave us safety, but it also left little to nothing for tuition.

My parents deserve that home because they have worked far too hard not to have a place to finally rest. I have always carried their dreams with me. Every class I take, every grade I earn, every goal I set, it is all for them. They have taught me to keep pushing no matter how hard life gets. But right now, the weight feels unbearable. My father’s health has started to show the toll of a lifetime of labor, and I am terrified that the stress of our situation might make things worse for him.

Still, I refuse to give up. I have come too far, and my parents have sacrificed too much for me to stop now. Education has always been my way of honoring their sacrifices, a way to build a better future for my family and to give back to others who are struggling the same way we once did.

That is why I am reaching out with this GoFundMe. I am asking for help not just to pay a bill, but to keep a lifelong dream alive. I have fought through every challenge, and I am so close to the finish line, but I cannot do it alone this time. Any amount, big or small, would mean the world to me and my family. It would give me the chance to register for my final classes, graduate, and move one step closer to building the life my parents have always dreamed of for me.

I want my story to be one of resilience, not defeat, of hope, not hardship. I want to look back and say that this moment, this obstacle, became the chapter that taught me the true meaning of community and compassion.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting my story. Your kindness could be the reason I finally walk across that stage and make my family’s dream come true.