Larissa’s Masters Miracle
Donation protected
My name is Larissa, I’m a 27 year old American citizen studying in England, and due to my USfinancial aid unexpectedly not working, I’m fundraising £20,500 GBP (approx $27,500 USD) for my last year of University.
(the short version: I have small goals of £2,000 / £9,250 / and the remaining £9,250: ASAP / by mid jan / by mid April respectively. I believe God is in this decision for a final year of study! It may seem like a lot, but many hands make light work - please consider giving generously and partnering with me in faith!)
The longer version:
I came to England at first just to work and do an internship with a church. However during my year working, I realised I wanted to study, and God opened the door for me to pursue a Bachelors in International Development at the University of Sussex.
After three years of study, I felt it was right to dive in for another year and do a Masters in Social Development, which specialised my degree more. It was on this year that I became interested in sustainable business and supply chains - a realm of work I would love to go into in the future!
And that was the plan - until Covid threw things for a loop and made an already difficult job market even more difficult to access and enter! My original plan to find a job, switch visas from student to work visa, and stay in my home in the UK, was suddenly not such smooth sailing.
As I've been looking for jobs, a variety of volunteer and favors-for-friends jobs came up involving digital marketing - and amazingly... I loved it! It was happening in such a curious way that I remember consciously thinking a couple of times, “... God, are you up to something?” And as I kept looking for jobs, the positions in development that I was interested in all preferred candidates with marketing/PR experience.
Time ticked on and my visa expiration at the end of January started to feel SO looming. It’s bizarre to think that I, legally, am here temporarily, when Brighton, my friends, my Church, and this country have become my home! I kept praying that God would provide a way for me to stay.
Through various conversations I looked into further education, I had told God I would do a doctorate if He kept providing, as had been our educational agreement from the get go! But as I perused my uni’s site, what jumped out at me was a January start Masters in Marketing.
Suffice to say - that’s what I’m pursuing. And in a matter of about 5 days I had applied, filled out extra paperwork, my references had gotten back to the uni, and I had an unconditional offer. I filled out the forms for USfinancial aid, and waited for the school to be contacted and for that process to carry on. Only it didn’t. Due to the newness of the course at the university, they have said they haven’t got the infrastructure to facilitate the dispersal of USfinancial aid.
This is where you guys come in.
Being an International student, the fees are higher than internal, so my cost of attendance is £20,500 GBP (about $27,500 USD). I have applied for a loan with a US private loan company, which is less than ideal but a means to an end, and I am trusting God and His provision every step of the way!
but better yet would be not having to use that service at all.
I need a £2,000 deposit as soon as possible to initiate the visa process, and then the first instalment of £9,250 when the course starts and I register mid January (around the 18th, firm date to be determined)
I then need the final £9,250 in April, when the second instalment is due.
I believe this degree will help to add a razor’s edge to my existing education and expertise. It also opens the door for me to access a further two year graduate visa after the degree.
I have an amazing house already that I believe God made happen, I have a job lined up that is better than I could’ve imagined, and I strongly believe God has paved the way for me to stay here.
I have been challenged on my doggedness to stay by amazing mentors and friends who love me enough to have the hard chats with me - and I’ve laid this decision out multiple times. I still believe in pursuing this, I believe God is in it, and I am praying that he moves mightily to provide as he has done before.
If my entire network of connections and friends around the world were to help out, this amount could be raised so easy, I know it. God is an abundant provider. If 200 people gave £100 we’d be done. If all of my insta followers (about 500) gave £40 - we’d be done!
Please pray with me that God would open the window and let money flood in! And please consider being part of this amazing testimony, and donating generously to help me reach my goals!
(the short version: I have small goals of £2,000 / £9,250 / and the remaining £9,250: ASAP / by mid jan / by mid April respectively. I believe God is in this decision for a final year of study! It may seem like a lot, but many hands make light work - please consider giving generously and partnering with me in faith!)
The longer version:
I came to England at first just to work and do an internship with a church. However during my year working, I realised I wanted to study, and God opened the door for me to pursue a Bachelors in International Development at the University of Sussex.
After three years of study, I felt it was right to dive in for another year and do a Masters in Social Development, which specialised my degree more. It was on this year that I became interested in sustainable business and supply chains - a realm of work I would love to go into in the future!
And that was the plan - until Covid threw things for a loop and made an already difficult job market even more difficult to access and enter! My original plan to find a job, switch visas from student to work visa, and stay in my home in the UK, was suddenly not such smooth sailing.
As I've been looking for jobs, a variety of volunteer and favors-for-friends jobs came up involving digital marketing - and amazingly... I loved it! It was happening in such a curious way that I remember consciously thinking a couple of times, “... God, are you up to something?” And as I kept looking for jobs, the positions in development that I was interested in all preferred candidates with marketing/PR experience.
Time ticked on and my visa expiration at the end of January started to feel SO looming. It’s bizarre to think that I, legally, am here temporarily, when Brighton, my friends, my Church, and this country have become my home! I kept praying that God would provide a way for me to stay.
Through various conversations I looked into further education, I had told God I would do a doctorate if He kept providing, as had been our educational agreement from the get go! But as I perused my uni’s site, what jumped out at me was a January start Masters in Marketing.
Suffice to say - that’s what I’m pursuing. And in a matter of about 5 days I had applied, filled out extra paperwork, my references had gotten back to the uni, and I had an unconditional offer. I filled out the forms for USfinancial aid, and waited for the school to be contacted and for that process to carry on. Only it didn’t. Due to the newness of the course at the university, they have said they haven’t got the infrastructure to facilitate the dispersal of USfinancial aid.
This is where you guys come in.
Being an International student, the fees are higher than internal, so my cost of attendance is £20,500 GBP (about $27,500 USD). I have applied for a loan with a US private loan company, which is less than ideal but a means to an end, and I am trusting God and His provision every step of the way!
but better yet would be not having to use that service at all.
I need a £2,000 deposit as soon as possible to initiate the visa process, and then the first instalment of £9,250 when the course starts and I register mid January (around the 18th, firm date to be determined)
I then need the final £9,250 in April, when the second instalment is due.
I believe this degree will help to add a razor’s edge to my existing education and expertise. It also opens the door for me to access a further two year graduate visa after the degree.
I have an amazing house already that I believe God made happen, I have a job lined up that is better than I could’ve imagined, and I strongly believe God has paved the way for me to stay here.
I have been challenged on my doggedness to stay by amazing mentors and friends who love me enough to have the hard chats with me - and I’ve laid this decision out multiple times. I still believe in pursuing this, I believe God is in it, and I am praying that he moves mightily to provide as he has done before.
If my entire network of connections and friends around the world were to help out, this amount could be raised so easy, I know it. God is an abundant provider. If 200 people gave £100 we’d be done. If all of my insta followers (about 500) gave £40 - we’d be done!
Please pray with me that God would open the window and let money flood in! And please consider being part of this amazing testimony, and donating generously to help me reach my goals!
Organizer
Larissa Matson
Organizer
England