Help Vick Educate the Future Generations!

Please read this in full.

Hello everyone,

My name is Vick. The purpose of this is to help me become a teacher; I am fundraising for tuition. I would like to teach anywhere between Grades 4 and 12; I am at my best with those age groups.

There's a lot I'd like to share with you. Let me start by saying how much I love to serve the community. I have logged thousands of volunteer hours in schools over the past 15 years. I’ve also created and led many extracurricular programs in schools for students, programs that have helped to promote literacy, reading and writing. I've also run fundraising initiatives and philanthropic events that have benefited many charitable organizations, such as The Lumos Foundation, Sick Kids Hospital, Children’s Mental Health Ontario, Ukrainian Canadian Social Services, and more. I’ve also donated toys, books, and school supplies to numerous schools.

I began volunteering in schools in 2008. In 2014 I got my first paying job in a school as a Lunchroom Supervisor. In 2017, I received the Toronto District School Board’s Excellence Award, and I am believed to be the youngest recipient in the award's history [https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Excellence/Excellence-2017]. In 2018, I received the Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers and The Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers. I have won numerous volunteer awards for my community service and given countless hours of my own free time to the service of others in various communities, particularly in the education field, and helped thousands of students and people across many schools over the years. I have done all this gladly of my own will and I never wanted, asked for, or expected anything in return.

There were times when my volunteering efforts have had tremendous support and appreciation from some people, but there were also times when it was met with resistance, disparagement, obstruction and jealousy by other hate-driven and negative people; and in a couple of cases, very ungrateful people.

Over the years, I've worked with some incredibly amazing colleagues, but I've also worked with a lot of toxic petty people and had to deal with a lot of drama and politics.

I haven't had a lot of opportunities, no doubt because of who I am. I am a Canadian-born citizen, but as a son of immigrants from South America, I have been victimized countless times by white-privilege and white-supremacy. I've dealt with racism, discrimination and oppression my whole life.

I didn't have the easiest childhood either; growing up, I was constantly being bullied and picked on for numerous ridiculous reasons, both in elementary and high school. When I was in high school, I was always given a hard time, and it wasn't just other students but a number of staff as well. I was not offered the same learning opportunities as other students; it was unfair, inequitable and biased; I frequently dealth with hypocrisy, prejudice and manipulation from teachers and was screwed out of having great experiences; not to mention the favouritism shown to certain other students.

Since working for the TDSB since 2014, I vowed to be different and better than those I had to deal with as a student; I wanted to end the stigma and be a breath of fresh air and new life in the education system. I wanted to set a new precedent, and I've done just that. I wanted to be someone who works for students, not against them, to help them learn, reach their full potential, and make their voices heard, not silence them. I vowed to be the person I didn't have and the person I needed when I was in high school, and I am so proud to say that I have been just that to thousands of students already. Becoming a teacher will enable me to continue that and to do even more! I will do all I can to ensure that all students in my classes get a fair, equitable education and equal learning opportunities.

Those who know me well or personally know that I don’t like asking for favours or things if I can avoid it, particularly when it comes to money. I prefer to give than receive. On this occasion, however, it’s different. Today I am asking for help for myself, as much as I hate to, I have no choice. One of my biggest passions, asides from creative writing, is working with students in classrooms and educating young minds. Over the past decade and a half, I have worked extremely hard with the TDSB in the capacity of Lunchroom Supervisor, Childcare Attendant, School Based Safety Hall Monitor, and currently Educational Assistant. I’ve worked in these many roles, all while continuing with volunteering outside my professional duties and hours.

This coming school year will be my 10th anniversary; it's crazy to think that I've been working with the TDSB for an entire decade already, as of this September! Time really does fly when you're having fun!

It's been an interesting ride thus far, but now I want to move up to teaching. This is something I’ve been contemplating for the past few years, and I think it’s time to finally do it. I’ve had many people tell me over the years that I’d be a great teacher and encourage me to pursue it. The one thing that has really held me back from doing it is the tuition costs. So, I’m launching this GoFundMe page to be able to make this finally happen.

Many people over the last decade have been pushing me constantly to go back to school, I’ve heard it over and over and over, again and again. Since so many people have given me that same advice so persistently, I take it as a sign that this is what I should do. I’m hoping people will support me with the means to finally be able to take that advice and go to University. Many people really wanted me to go back to school, and now I’m ready to, but if I can do it will all depend on the success of this GoFundMe page.

When I was in high school I was an honour student. Hardworking, with above-average marks, honour roll, perfect attendance, and student of the month, I accomplished a lot despite the bullying and suffering I endured. It was exactly ten calendar years ago when I graduated high school; and ever since that time in 2012 I've been told repeatedly to go back to school.

I'm not getting any younger, and I want to start this as soon as possible. I found a great school that I think is the right fit for me, Lakehead University!

It’s about time I become a teacher so I can be able to do more with schools and students in and out of the classrooms without limitations and restrictions because of my job title. I want to be able to do more things, such as being in charge of excursions/field trips, coaching sports solo, and much more, but only a teacher can do these great fun things.

Again, the one thing that has held me back all this time is the high tuition costs. I’ve looked into scholarships, bursaries, and grants, but they are all targeted to graduating Grade 12 high school students; I don’t qualify for any of them because none are available to adult learners like myself. And unfortunately, I won’t qualify for any loans, and even if I did, I would never be able to pay it back plus all the interests. So, this GoFundMe is to circumvent all that. This is my only chance and my only hope to become a teacher. It is rare that I ever ask for something for myself, but this is something I need to do.

Growing up as an only child in a single-parent household after my ‘father’ abandoned my family when I was a boy and left us in a mountain of debt that he created, I was never allowed or afforded the opportunity to save my money or have a savings of any kind as I always have to help my mom. Please understand that it’s not easy for me to be so vulnerable and share my personal life history like this publicly with the entire world. But even though it’s difficult, I want to be as real and honest and transparent as possible with everyone.

It feels like the perfect timing for me to become a teacher for several reasons. There is a massive shortage of teachers right now; they’re looking to hire more people from visible minority groups to be teachers; they're looking to hire more male teachers, and I’ve gained a lot of experience in the education field over the past 15 years.

So, I humbly ask for your help and support in finally making this dream of being a teacher happen.

Any assistance would be very greatly appreciated! No dollar amount is too small; it all adds up. Please share this link/page and pass it on to anyone and everyone you know. As they say, “it takes a village,” and as I myself have proven many times through my volunteering and philanthropic initiatives, when people work together as a team, we can make incredible things happen and even make dreams come true! So, I hope you can help make one of my dreams come true here and now with this.

Here is an estimated breakdown of how the funds collected here will be used.

Amount Needed: $92,000.00

o $40,000 (approximately) BA (Bachelor of Arts) tuition - 3 to 4 years.

o $40,000 (approximately) BT (Bachelor of Teaching) tuition - 2 years.

o $12,000 (approximately) Equipment and school supplies

Again, no dollar amount is too small; any amount you can give is appreciated. From what I understand, you will get a tax receipt from GoFundMe for your donation(s). Please remember and keep that in mind when you file your taxes.

I am ready to start this new and more rewarding chapter of my life as a teacher, and I am excited to take on this new adventure. The road ahead might be a challenging and busy journey, but I’m prepared to take it on and put in all the work necessary.

Thank you very much for your kind and generous support of this ambitious and costly endeavour of mine! I know the end result will be rich and rewarding. My quest to become a teacher has now officially begun.

It's been over a year since I've been trying to get this setup, 13.5 months to be exact, and I'm excited to have finally been able to launch this GoFundMe page and get things going and get the ball rolling!

Please pass this along and share it with anyone and everyone you know to help spread the word. Share it far and wide with one and all. Thank You!!!

Take care, stay safe, and be well. ✌☮️