My name is Susana Hernández, and I have spent my life dreaming of going to college to become a lawyer.

In May of this year, I reached a huge milestone by graduating from Jimmy Carter Early College High School with 44 college credit hours, finishing at the top of my class.

Throughout high school, I was actively involved in many organizations and clubs. I was a member of UIL, the National Honor Society, and the drill team at Juarez Lincoln High School. I served as treasurer for my class and as Vice-President of the National Beta Club. My dedication and involvement earned me the prestigious Presidential Scholarship from UTRGV, which I believed would cover my first semester of classes.

However, I recently received an email from UTRGV stating that only $4,000 of my scholarship would be applied to my tuition, leaving me with a remaining balance of $1,071.40 due by August 27. If I am unable to pay this balance, I will be dropped from my classes.

I was advised to complete my FAFSA so that additional aid could cover my tuition, books, and materials, but my family is facing financial hardship. My mother cannot afford to pay for the tax preparation needed for my FAFSA, and I have no other resources to meet this urgent deadline.

I have worked so hard for this opportunity, and I don’t want to give up on my dream. Becoming a lawyer is not just a personal goal—it is a promise I made to myself, to my mother who has sacrificed everything for me and my brother, and to my late father, whose memory inspires me every day.

Your donation, no matter the amount, would help me stay enrolled and continue on the path toward making my dream a reality. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your generosity and for believing in me.

God bless you.

— Susana Hernández