Funding for Surgeries
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Greetings Dear Reader,
My name is Isreal Thomas and I have been pursuing a career in computer science since middle school. To start, in 2017, I applied at the University of New Orleans. My mom helped with the application process to get me formally enrolled for a full 4-year course. My dad and his transportation had to take me to and from campus which was an hour and a half's long drive from our hometown. Bless him for that.
For my first semester, all was going well. I was making friends, passing my courses, and getting on track for my aspirations. It was when the second semester started when the big problem came up. It turns out that my tuition wasn’t fully covered. The grants only covered one semester and had the rest of the year unpaid for. Consequently, I got kicked out after only 3 months at the school. Since it was under a year, I got no credits for it.
It bummed out both me and my family. Not only did I hate having a semester of work with no credits to show for it, it was also the fact that I had counted on my dad's investment in time for nothing in return. I felt like I failed him in a way no father should have to endure.
But he was my dad. Willing to forgive, we set our sights on something cheaper and closer to home. The next year, him and I worked out a deal for summer part-time courses at BRCC in an attempt to get an associate's. Baby steps.
Once again, with the help of my dad for the commute, one semester of my education went by just fine. Even after getting a job in the meantime, I managed to keep my grades up to get back on track to at least have some certification of being a computer specialist.
But then something happened. I got summoned to appear for jury duty. Not the most thrilling thing that can happen, but if I just present that I am a student I can be exempt. All I needed to do was to get certification forms from the school. This is when we found out my enrollment at the school was nulled out, to put it shortly. To this day, I still do not know what it was. My records or enrollment was lost to the school and thus to me.
The hot July afternoon ride home was cold and dark. Again, by no fault of his,I failed to establish myself as a capable adult. I loathed burdening my dad like this. In my eyes, it was a sign. If a brainiac schoolboy like me was unable to stay in college, then what good am I? He left me home to pick up my sister from her job. That's when I decided to lighten the load on my dad. I took his pistol, went to our backyard, and pulled the trigger to take myself out of the equation.
Call it fate, luck, or divine intervention. I survived a .45 bullet through my head. In these last few months, I have been blessed to be able to recover from a nursing bed, to crutches, to a cast and to a fully unbound body. This journey of mine has showed me what I really need to be doing for myself and my family. They still love me, despite the setbacks that I come with. They would rather have me get kicked out a dozen different schools than having to go to my funeral.
I still desire to continue furthering my education, but that has been put hold for the time being, as my recovery is not yet complete. I still have at least 2 facial surgeries pending. I appreciate my family for all the love and support they have shown me through this crisis. I know now relying on my own judgment, my own devices alone is not the way to do it. I need help from people of a benevolent heart to assist me in overcoming the hills of operational costs ahead of me. The total cost of my surgeries are $32,000.00. I pray that God will bless you for every seed that you may sow, this will help my family out financially..
My name is Isreal Thomas and I have been pursuing a career in computer science since middle school. To start, in 2017, I applied at the University of New Orleans. My mom helped with the application process to get me formally enrolled for a full 4-year course. My dad and his transportation had to take me to and from campus which was an hour and a half's long drive from our hometown. Bless him for that.
For my first semester, all was going well. I was making friends, passing my courses, and getting on track for my aspirations. It was when the second semester started when the big problem came up. It turns out that my tuition wasn’t fully covered. The grants only covered one semester and had the rest of the year unpaid for. Consequently, I got kicked out after only 3 months at the school. Since it was under a year, I got no credits for it.
It bummed out both me and my family. Not only did I hate having a semester of work with no credits to show for it, it was also the fact that I had counted on my dad's investment in time for nothing in return. I felt like I failed him in a way no father should have to endure.
But he was my dad. Willing to forgive, we set our sights on something cheaper and closer to home. The next year, him and I worked out a deal for summer part-time courses at BRCC in an attempt to get an associate's. Baby steps.
Once again, with the help of my dad for the commute, one semester of my education went by just fine. Even after getting a job in the meantime, I managed to keep my grades up to get back on track to at least have some certification of being a computer specialist.
But then something happened. I got summoned to appear for jury duty. Not the most thrilling thing that can happen, but if I just present that I am a student I can be exempt. All I needed to do was to get certification forms from the school. This is when we found out my enrollment at the school was nulled out, to put it shortly. To this day, I still do not know what it was. My records or enrollment was lost to the school and thus to me.
The hot July afternoon ride home was cold and dark. Again, by no fault of his,I failed to establish myself as a capable adult. I loathed burdening my dad like this. In my eyes, it was a sign. If a brainiac schoolboy like me was unable to stay in college, then what good am I? He left me home to pick up my sister from her job. That's when I decided to lighten the load on my dad. I took his pistol, went to our backyard, and pulled the trigger to take myself out of the equation.
Call it fate, luck, or divine intervention. I survived a .45 bullet through my head. In these last few months, I have been blessed to be able to recover from a nursing bed, to crutches, to a cast and to a fully unbound body. This journey of mine has showed me what I really need to be doing for myself and my family. They still love me, despite the setbacks that I come with. They would rather have me get kicked out a dozen different schools than having to go to my funeral.
I still desire to continue furthering my education, but that has been put hold for the time being, as my recovery is not yet complete. I still have at least 2 facial surgeries pending. I appreciate my family for all the love and support they have shown me through this crisis. I know now relying on my own judgment, my own devices alone is not the way to do it. I need help from people of a benevolent heart to assist me in overcoming the hills of operational costs ahead of me. The total cost of my surgeries are $32,000.00. I pray that God will bless you for every seed that you may sow, this will help my family out financially..
Organizer
John Thomas
Organizer
Zachary, LA
