Help me study abroad!

Hi friends and family—

This feels slightly out of my comfort zone but learning to ask for help is a process in growth, even when it feels like it's not applicable. I appreciate you taking the time out to read about my fundraiser. I know it seems like I’ve been asking for favors a lot in the last few months—and you’re not wrong. I’m a gal of many hobbies and projects these days. This time in particular has to do with a larger project I am currently working on: my doctorate.

I am currently in my second year at UAB in the Health Education and Promotion program. The process has been equally rewarding as much as it has been challenging. Maintaining my 4.0 GPA plus (now) three jobs has tested me in ways that nothing else ever could. The “easy” part to my program is approaching its expiration. I took a leap of chance and applied to a two-week study abroad program in May 2022. I was accepted earlier in the year and I’m now tasked with the daunting task of figuring out how to make it all happen. To participate in this program would mean so much and be an experience unlike anything else; a once in a life time experience.

The course is titled Exploring Population Health, United Kingdom (PUH696) and is within the UAB School of Public Health. Some of the included program highlights include:

The class is worth six hours and will run from May 12th to May 24th. Over the course of two weeks, in addition to the pre-work and post-work of the abroad portion to the class, I will be required to prep to teach my cohort of 20 or so students for a day.

It's no secret of how long I have been gushing over my dream to study abroad. For many health reasons and financial hurdles, I was not able to participate in an abroad program during my undergraduate or graduate degrees. Despite working the hardest I’ve ever worked to keep things flowing, I am still hitting a road block in the finalization of the course. I’ve exhausted my resources for financial support— abroad scholarships, UAB’s scholarships, saving financial aid from prior semesters, working additional jobs. Alas, it’s not all gloom, I am very happy to say I have managed to collect $1,500 in scholarships thus far—but the total for the course is so much more.

I'm asking for $11,000 based on the GoFundMe's processing fees and the estimated total outlined in my abroad budget worksheet. The amounts under the "actual cost" are estimates based on the school's suggested totals.

Below are the numbers pulled from the Study Abroad budget worksheet required of all students when applying for a program:

If you have any additional questions about the program, please let me know! For those who are do not want to donate through this campaign, you are also welcome to donate through Venom (@amh1020).

Thank you!