- J
- B
- K
I would like to start off by thanking you for taking the time to read this and considering the idea of contributing to my journey and challenge. An opportunity of a lifetime has crossed my path and I’d like to tell you more about it, because I’d also like to ask for your help in achieving this goal. I cannot overstate my gratitude as I know you all have journeys and challenges of your own.
As most of you know, I’ve been working towards my Science Degree at Dalhousie University in Biology, as well as my Certificate in Animal Behaviour. I have recently been offered a chance to travel to Sri Lanka for the month of July to take a course through Dalhousie called Tropical Ecology. This course would involve visiting and working in research facilities in Sri Lanka, a small island country on the Southestern Tip of India. While there I will be in restricted research areas containing endangered endemic species that live there and collecting and analyzing data to help understand the ecosystems and inhabitants of the area. I was offered a spot in this course months after the deadline for entry, which had six people rejected in its 3 interview process, with the faith and mentorship of a professor who has seen and recognized my hard work in school and wanted me to be a part of this.
Tropical Ecology would also prepare me for field work and satisfy the very important Independent Research Project component to my Animal Behaviour Certificate. Conservation is my passion, and I feel this overseas course would only strengthen my desire and skills in making a difference in this world. I would also be granted access to the data of this summer and last to build on my own research project when I do my Masters. This would also give me great experience in cooperating and collaborating with international research facilities which will be very beneficial to my career prospects.
I’m doing my best at thriving in this bustling city of Halifax by serving in a local restaurant on weekends and keeping an eagle’s eye on the 50% off rack at the Superstore. I was raised by a single mother who worked three jobs to support myself and two other siblings, so I learned early after the divorce of my parents how to turn a dime into a dollar. The minimum cost of this course is $884.00, not including $343 for the University fee, as well as a $3900 for a Sri Lanka Auxiliary fee (covering my travel and accommodation for the entire trip).
That’s not including extra important factors like health and travel insurance, vaccines, or rent while I’m away. however I'm only setting the goal to $5000 as I only want your money to contribute to my education. I have already happily invested all of my current life savings in this goal, and do not expect the entire goal to be met by other people. If you know me, I have worked hard to make all my educational and personal goals become a reality, but this being a last minute opportunity of a lifetime is a challenge I was willing to accept.
When considering rather or not to accept I called the one person I knew had my back, my mother. She didn't understand the costs just yet but she said the one thing a parent will always say to a child (at any age) with a dream they want to make a reality "we will figure it out". Regardless of any contributions I may receive, I will find a way to make this happen, just as I always have. But your help will make this so much easier.
I was attracted to Dalhousie because of their Biology program but also for their Coop Work Placement Program. It would give me three work terms in between semesters and provide me with real work experiences in my field. It was a competitive program and not everyone gets in but after two years at Dalhousie and exceeding their 3.0GPA (B minimum) I got into the work placement program. This option has a 97% employment rate however 25% of the jobs were inside the Halifax area and the rest were outside the city or province and some outside the country. This was overwhelming because I had secured a really great position at a local restaurant that had provided me with the resources to stay afloat while working on my university degree. Many people I know do not work during their university degree or if so work very little. I have been fortunate not have to work a full 40 hours, but I still have to work substantially more than others that have financial resources from their parents. I do not mind working while in school as I was raised to be independent and it prepares me for the real world. However accepting a job from outside of Halifax for Coop could have potentially risked my secure position at the local restaurant, meaning when I return from coop my job may not have been there. This posed a huge threat to my long term financial security as school is expensive and I need to pay for things like rent and utilities at the same time. Also, Coop would have been paying me less that I would have paid into it, and there was a fee for each coop term. Ultimately I had to decide to walk away from the Coop Program and continue on in my degree without it. This decision ended up affecting me more than I have been honest about. I made this decision in May 2018, took the only summer course that I could afford at the time and thought that by the time fall semester started I would have forgiven myself for passing up on an opportunity I moved here and achieved competitive grades for. I began to doubt my future as I am an older student and worry if my age will affect who they will consider for positions once I'm out of school, especially since some of the younger students were also in coop and will now have an advantage beyond age but experience for their age too. I thought about all the loss of potential I had given up, all the pressure of doing well in school, staying financially afloat and a thousand other doubts and worries had compromised me emotionally and I decided to drop most of my courses, switching to part-time in the fall instead to rebuild my emotional foundations. I spent some time (and money) with a therapist for six weeks and confessed a lot of insecurities and worries I had and worked through them over the fall and early winter. By winter I had bounce back to full time studies and it has certainly paid off and this opportunity is a reflection of that.
If you would like to help me there are a few suggestions for you. First I'll mention the money part, because yes it's uncomfortable but it's what is really going to help me the most. You can make a donation here or if you prefer you can send me an etransfer to [email redacted] and I can input your donation into the GoFundMe Talley so your contribution will be documented. If you cannot contribute or just don't want to, that's more than okay. You do not owe me anything and you do not need to justify why you'd rather not. I do not expect anything from anyone. As mentioned these are very hard times for a lot of people. A lot of you have children of your own with equally bright futures (especially the powerful women growing up in this family!) and I'm so proud to see so many of the next generation being so inspired to do better than the last. But if you can't contribute I'd appreciate it you sent my story to someone that could. It would mean a lot to my financial stress as I only have under 100 days until the course begins and the deadline for the cost is even sooner than that. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope at best this has given you a window in my life and have brought you closer to me. Regardless of donation I am always here if you want to reach out and have a conversation. We are physically more apart than any generation but we are all still family.
All My Love, - Alan
Tropical Ecology would also prepare me for field work and satisfy the very important Independent Research Project component to my Animal Behaviour Certificate. Conservation is my passion, and I feel this overseas course would only strengthen my desire and skills in making a difference in this world. I would also be granted access to the data of this summer and last to build on my own research project when I do my Masters. This would also give me great experience in cooperating and collaborating with international research facilities which will be very beneficial to my career prospects.
I’m doing my best at thriving in this bustling city of Halifax by serving in a local restaurant on weekends and keeping an eagle’s eye on the 50% off rack at the Superstore. I was raised by a single mother who worked three jobs to support myself and two other siblings, so I learned early after the divorce of my parents how to turn a dime into a dollar. The minimum cost of this course is $884.00, not including $343 for the University fee, as well as a $3900 for a Sri Lanka Auxiliary fee (covering my travel and accommodation for the entire trip).
That’s not including extra important factors like health and travel insurance, vaccines, or rent while I’m away. however I'm only setting the goal to $5000 as I only want your money to contribute to my education. I have already happily invested all of my current life savings in this goal, and do not expect the entire goal to be met by other people. If you know me, I have worked hard to make all my educational and personal goals become a reality, but this being a last minute opportunity of a lifetime is a challenge I was willing to accept.
When considering rather or not to accept I called the one person I knew had my back, my mother. She didn't understand the costs just yet but she said the one thing a parent will always say to a child (at any age) with a dream they want to make a reality "we will figure it out". Regardless of any contributions I may receive, I will find a way to make this happen, just as I always have. But your help will make this so much easier.
I was attracted to Dalhousie because of their Biology program but also for their Coop Work Placement Program. It would give me three work terms in between semesters and provide me with real work experiences in my field. It was a competitive program and not everyone gets in but after two years at Dalhousie and exceeding their 3.0GPA (B minimum) I got into the work placement program. This option has a 97% employment rate however 25% of the jobs were inside the Halifax area and the rest were outside the city or province and some outside the country. This was overwhelming because I had secured a really great position at a local restaurant that had provided me with the resources to stay afloat while working on my university degree. Many people I know do not work during their university degree or if so work very little. I have been fortunate not have to work a full 40 hours, but I still have to work substantially more than others that have financial resources from their parents. I do not mind working while in school as I was raised to be independent and it prepares me for the real world. However accepting a job from outside of Halifax for Coop could have potentially risked my secure position at the local restaurant, meaning when I return from coop my job may not have been there. This posed a huge threat to my long term financial security as school is expensive and I need to pay for things like rent and utilities at the same time. Also, Coop would have been paying me less that I would have paid into it, and there was a fee for each coop term. Ultimately I had to decide to walk away from the Coop Program and continue on in my degree without it. This decision ended up affecting me more than I have been honest about. I made this decision in May 2018, took the only summer course that I could afford at the time and thought that by the time fall semester started I would have forgiven myself for passing up on an opportunity I moved here and achieved competitive grades for. I began to doubt my future as I am an older student and worry if my age will affect who they will consider for positions once I'm out of school, especially since some of the younger students were also in coop and will now have an advantage beyond age but experience for their age too. I thought about all the loss of potential I had given up, all the pressure of doing well in school, staying financially afloat and a thousand other doubts and worries had compromised me emotionally and I decided to drop most of my courses, switching to part-time in the fall instead to rebuild my emotional foundations. I spent some time (and money) with a therapist for six weeks and confessed a lot of insecurities and worries I had and worked through them over the fall and early winter. By winter I had bounce back to full time studies and it has certainly paid off and this opportunity is a reflection of that.
If you would like to help me there are a few suggestions for you. First I'll mention the money part, because yes it's uncomfortable but it's what is really going to help me the most. You can make a donation here or if you prefer you can send me an etransfer to [email redacted] and I can input your donation into the GoFundMe Talley so your contribution will be documented. If you cannot contribute or just don't want to, that's more than okay. You do not owe me anything and you do not need to justify why you'd rather not. I do not expect anything from anyone. As mentioned these are very hard times for a lot of people. A lot of you have children of your own with equally bright futures (especially the powerful women growing up in this family!) and I'm so proud to see so many of the next generation being so inspired to do better than the last. But if you can't contribute I'd appreciate it you sent my story to someone that could. It would mean a lot to my financial stress as I only have under 100 days until the course begins and the deadline for the cost is even sooner than that. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope at best this has given you a window in my life and have brought you closer to me. Regardless of donation I am always here if you want to reach out and have a conversation. We are physically more apart than any generation but we are all still family.
All My Love, - Alan