hi everyone, i wish i didn’t have to do this, but unfortunately the circumstances i am in require it. over the past few weeks, i have been in a back and forth with ucla financial aid who is refusing to process/disburse my financial aid until they receive my selective service registration letter. but as many of you may know, i am undocumented and therefore do not have a ssn. for registrants who do not have a ssn, the selective service office requires that the registration application is mailed in with an expected response time of 30-90 days. my fall quarter, and thus my payment deadlines, start september 23rd. i have mailed in the form, even with express shipping, and am waiting on my response letter, but i am quickly running out of time, and despite being an incredibly wealthy school, ucla waits for no one.

what’s even more frustrating is that i tried to register for selective service last year, but just as i was going to, the financial aid office suddenly and with no justification told me i no longer had to complete it, now with just a few weeks, they’re punishing me for something of their doing.

this is my dream school, you all know how much i wanted this, how much i earned it and continue to earn it, for my family and myself. and all know that my family does not have the resources to meet such a large bill. i hate the fact that i have to do this, but i have no choice.

i know these are difficult times for us all, but if you have even just a little to support my first generation dreams of a college education, i would be indebted to and appreciative of you forever, and if you can’t, then sharing is more than enough. thank you all so very much. all my love, forever and always, jeffry <3.