This year, the financial aid I was depending on was unexpectedly cut. It’s no one’s fault, and I’m still doing everything I can to fight for my education. But the truth is, I need help. I need to raise $4,001 by the end of this week (1 Aug) to avoid late fees and stay enrolled, and $8,002 in total to continue this year.

I tend to be really reserved about my life. Asking for help feels vulnerable. But I’ve worked too hard to give up now, and I believe in the future I’m building.

It is my dream to one day run a university, to hold public office, to practice law, and to teach people the power of story. I believe that when we are given space to speak honestly about our lives, we create room for others to breathe. And all of that, for me, begins with finishing my degree in Theatre for Community and Classroom.

It’s not the most traditional path, but when I am in the theatre, I see God. Nothing else rivals the running, the joy, the chaos of a dressing room, or the quiet roar right before the curtain rises. And nothing means more to me than seeing someone in the audience — a stranger, a friend — recognize themselves for the very first time.

It is for these fleeting but sacred moments that I believe in art. I believe in its power to transform, to teach, to heal, and to connect. I want to spend my life creating those moments for others — especially those who’ve been told their stories don’t matter.

Your support — whether through a donation, sharing this campaign, or simply offering kind words — helps me stay on this path. It helps me continue my craft and continue believing that the future I imagine is possible.

Thank you for reading. Truly.

—Armani Welch