Juan Bran-Gudiel's Pursue for Higher Education
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I am doing this fundraiser for myself Juan Bran-Gudiel. I graduated from Los Angeles Valley College and will be continuing my higher education at UC Santa Barbara. My spouse, two kids and I will benefit from the donations by being able to pay for rent, food, books, transportation, tuition, other items to be able to furnish the apartment. I am a former foster youth and have depended on the government my whole life. As we move out of her parents house and try to start a life of our own, and pursue my higher education it will be a lot tougher having to pay for everything when I have depended on the government my whole life. The thought of not continuing my higher education due to not having financial means to pay for higher education and support my family (really scares me). Having financial means will mean the world to me as I wont have to worry about having a roof over my kids head, having food on the table, and being able to pay for a University. Having one less stress will allow me to focus on higher education in the pursue of my B.A's in Chicana/o Studies and a minor in Sociology. If I were to receive the financial help to pursue my goal in being able to break the stigma of foster youth being homeless, in jail or even dead, it will allow me to reach my goal to ultimately help foster youth who are also incarcerated and show them that education is the way out.
Deciding on my major and career focusing on sociology and ethnic studies took some time. As I was trying to figure out what field of study would allow me to pursue a career that will enable me to work with foster youth who are in and out of the penal system. As I reflect on how I have prepared for upper-division courses I realized I have been preparing for this my entire life. Most specifically, at the age of nine I was placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The most significant challenge I have faced was navigating through the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). As a child, I knew that my step dad was the only family I had. My step-dad wasn’t around much, but when he was he would beat me up. His abuse led to my removal from his care. As I entered my first foster home, I was forced to leave everything I knew. I lost faith in the whole world, as I tried to comprehend the cruelty all of nine us placed in the foster home were enduring. Removed from the only parent I ever knew, I could not understand how, being with strangers was better. I had to grow up quickly and learn who I could trust. I was moved from placement to, foster home, shelters, detention centers and group homes and completely lost and angry. Feeling abandoned I attempted suicide multiple times. I stopped asking for help in any kind, because no one seemed to care or they treated me like I was a problem they had to deal with. I was treated like a paycheck to the people fostering me. I temporarily lost all hope in life. Knowing that I had to provide for myself and earn money in a way that would prevent me from continuing to be incarcerated, I turned to education. Navigating the foster system, without stability greatly impacted my educational attainment. I didn’t have anyone checking to see if I did my work, making sure I went to school. When I moved, I had to retake classes because I didn’t have access to my records, to the point where I had to begin demanding for my transcripts to prevent this. Growing up in the foster system, I didn’t have anyone to show me or teach me how to be academically successful. Despite the hardships I endured in the foster system it taught me how to provide for myself and my family & the importance of hard work.. I have overcome my challenges by allowing my experiences to teach me persistence. I am certain that my life experiences and academic history have prepared me to succeed as I continue my education. The only obstacle in my way to be able to succeed is being financially stable to pay for rent, food, college expenses and just focus on getting that degree. Me and my family would be so grateful to receive any type help in order to be able to pursue my goal at UC Santa Barbara. This support will mean the world to me as I know that with the financial help I know I will be able to accomplish my goal in getting my B.A in Chicana/o Studies and a minor in Sociology.
Deciding on my major and career focusing on sociology and ethnic studies took some time. As I was trying to figure out what field of study would allow me to pursue a career that will enable me to work with foster youth who are in and out of the penal system. As I reflect on how I have prepared for upper-division courses I realized I have been preparing for this my entire life. Most specifically, at the age of nine I was placed in the custody of the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). The most significant challenge I have faced was navigating through the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). As a child, I knew that my step dad was the only family I had. My step-dad wasn’t around much, but when he was he would beat me up. His abuse led to my removal from his care. As I entered my first foster home, I was forced to leave everything I knew. I lost faith in the whole world, as I tried to comprehend the cruelty all of nine us placed in the foster home were enduring. Removed from the only parent I ever knew, I could not understand how, being with strangers was better. I had to grow up quickly and learn who I could trust. I was moved from placement to, foster home, shelters, detention centers and group homes and completely lost and angry. Feeling abandoned I attempted suicide multiple times. I stopped asking for help in any kind, because no one seemed to care or they treated me like I was a problem they had to deal with. I was treated like a paycheck to the people fostering me. I temporarily lost all hope in life. Knowing that I had to provide for myself and earn money in a way that would prevent me from continuing to be incarcerated, I turned to education. Navigating the foster system, without stability greatly impacted my educational attainment. I didn’t have anyone checking to see if I did my work, making sure I went to school. When I moved, I had to retake classes because I didn’t have access to my records, to the point where I had to begin demanding for my transcripts to prevent this. Growing up in the foster system, I didn’t have anyone to show me or teach me how to be academically successful. Despite the hardships I endured in the foster system it taught me how to provide for myself and my family & the importance of hard work.. I have overcome my challenges by allowing my experiences to teach me persistence. I am certain that my life experiences and academic history have prepared me to succeed as I continue my education. The only obstacle in my way to be able to succeed is being financially stable to pay for rent, food, college expenses and just focus on getting that degree. Me and my family would be so grateful to receive any type help in order to be able to pursue my goal at UC Santa Barbara. This support will mean the world to me as I know that with the financial help I know I will be able to accomplish my goal in getting my B.A in Chicana/o Studies and a minor in Sociology.
Organizer
Juan Bran
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
