In need of help while recovering in health.

Hello, everyone! I hope you have been well. This is a bit embarassing, but due to ongoing health issues throughout last year and the beginning of this year, I have been struggling to make ends meet.

Admittedly, this struggle has been ongoing. Potentially, even having started while in law school; I have been wrestling with with myself for a long while, and it has taken some time (and no small amount of courage) to finally admit to myself that law is not a field that makes me happy. That it may even be something I went into more for others than for myself.

While I still believe strongly in social justice, justice for indigenous peoples -nationally and internationally - as well as the role and rule of law (and while also retaining a deep love for legal academia/scholarship, research, and writing), it is not where I belong - at least not now, and not for the foreseeable future.

Trying to be the "circle peg" fitting into a "square-shaped hole," so to speak, for YEARS now, has taken a massive toll on my mental health (something that the legal field is notorious for, even under the best of circumstances), which in turn, has taken a toll on my physical health. Having to tend to these issues (along with related medical conditions) reduced my work hours over time and made it harder to pay my bills on time.

It is a very, VERY long story, but paying off everything I owed in back-rent has recently destabilized me, and I am trying to come up with the money for anticipated expenses in June (rent, utilities, groceries, etc.). I am committed to getting back ion my feet/being financially independent, but right now, I could use a little help from anyone who can spare it.

I understand that we are all struggling in ways that would surprise our friends, families, and colleagues. For the longest time, I didn't ask for help out of fear of what others may think/say. But now, I am asking for help (and pray that those of you reading this, who are also struggling, get the aid you need).

If you can spare anything, it is appreciated. In any case, I hope you are all well and thriving. If Venmo would work better, I also have my code uploaded as my GoFundMe image.

Mālama pono,

Ashllyn