Hi!  I'm Lourdes and I am a senior at Schurz High School.  Recently, I was accepted into St. Mary's College in South Bend.  This is my DREAM school!  The energy and sense of community that I felt during my visit there made me feel at home!

I am currently facing financial barriers that may prevent me from attending St. Mary's.  As an emancipated minor, I live in independent transitional housing and no longer have financial support from my parents.  I don’t want my current situation to prevent me from achieving my dreams.

With your support, I will have the opportunity to attend a college that encourages me to be myself.  I will learn to identify and articulate solutions for issues that affect women and children.  Your support will allow me to pursue a career in social work so that I can apply my own personal experiences to empower youth impacted by trauma.

To say that my experiences have been difficult would be an understatement. However, your financial support will help me to pursue a dream that I never thought possible.