Illinois State U. Tuition Relief

My name is Jorge Luis Maciel, and I am currently a Senior at Illinois State University pursuing a degree in Journalism. I was born in Chicago in 2003, the first of my siblings to attend college. Although my family and I have never had much, we always made do with whatever jobs we could find.

Unfortunately, several of my family members have been laid off, including my parents who have suffered through enough; my mother battled cancer and my father diabetes, thus making it extremely difficult for us to get back on our feet. Because of Illinois State’s tuition policies and a lack of support from their financial aid office or FAFSA, I am now at risk of dropping out during my final year—I only need two semesters left to graduate.

I've poured my heart and soul into earning my degree and don't want to give up when I'm so close to graduating. All I want is to finish my degree and make my parents proud after all they have sacrificed. Any support or shares would mean the world to me as I try to stay in school and achieve this dream.