Help Amelia Finish College: I’m So Close to Graduating

Hi everyone, my name is Amelia Cunningham, and I’m a senior at Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, majoring in Violin Performance with a minor in Music Education. Unlike most college students, I have been fully independent since 18. I’ve spent the past four years giving everything I have to my studies and to my students. I teach violin, viola, cello, and piano at several schools and my own private studio, often working 30 to 35 hours a week just to afford rent, food, and basic necessities while staying full-time in school. I’ve never expected anything to be handed to me, but I’ve always been grateful for every bit of support I’ve received. I’ve worked hard to stand on my own and to prove that I was worth helping.

This year, everything changed. Due to a change in laws about who receives financial aid and a sudden change in my father’s reported income, I lost all the financial aid that made college possible for me. What is even more unfortunate is that my father was laid off, unable to find a job for nine months, and now makes much less than before; however, my family is still ineligible for federal support. Regardless of all these changes, my family has never helped me financially at all. Since I was 18, I have been responsible for my basic necessities, housing, and tuition. The system assumes that money goes toward my education, but in reality, I receive nothing. Now my federal loans no longer cover my tuition. Because I am financially independent and my family is unable to help me, I now have to cover $4,000 out of pocket: $2,000 for the Fall 2025 semester and $2,000 for the Spring 2026 semester.

I’ve applied for every scholarship and financial assistance program I can find. I’ve cut every expense possible, and I rely on food pantries to eat. Still, no matter how hard I try, I cannot close this gap alone. Without help, I will not be able to stay enrolled and finish my degree, something I’ve worked toward every single day since I started at Rutgers.

Music is my life. It’s how I connect with people, how I find peace, and how I hope to give back. I’ve dreamed of becoming a teacher and performer who helps students find their voice through music, just like my teachers did for me. I have worked so hard and I’m so close to that dream, but this unexpected loss of aid has left me terrified that all my hard work could fall apart.

Your support will help me stay in school, finish my final year, and graduate in May 2026. Thank you for reading, sharing, or donating. Your kindness truly makes a difference.

Thank you for helping me hold onto the dream I’ve fought for.