Help Kemal Celebrate a Major Milestone ❤️

Hi friends, family, and community,

I’m reaching out today as one incredibly proud mom.

My son, Kemal, has overcome more challenges than most people will ever see. Through financial hardship, long work hours, balancing graduate school, and simply trying to stay afloat during some of the hardest economic times, he never stopped pushing toward his goals. Even when life tested him, he stayed committed to creating a better future for himself and for the people he hopes to serve.

Today, I’m beyond proud to share that Kemal is graduating with honors from his Master’s program as a Master Social Worker on June 12th.

On top of that, he was recently approved by the Oregon Board of Social Workers as a Clinical Social Work Associate (CSWA), an accomplishment that reflects years of dedication, perseverance, and sacrifice. As he begins this next chapter and works toward building his client caseload, finances are still tight after everything it took to reach this point.

Kemal is also a first-generation college student, and as an African American man pursuing a career in mental health and social work, this achievement carries an even deeper meaning. Representation in these spaces matters, and his journey reflects resilience, perseverance, and the importance of showing others what is possible despite the barriers that often stand in the way.

There were so many moments throughout this journey where giving up would have been easier, but he continued to fight for his future anyway. Anyone who knows him knows he is not someone who asks for help. He has always carried things quietly, figured things out on his own, and continued showing up for others even when he was struggling himself.

With graduation quickly approaching on June 12th, our family is trying to make sure he can fully participate in and enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime moment without financial barriers standing in the way. As his family, the idea of him not being able to fully walk at graduation because of finances just does not sit right with us.

After all the sleepless nights, sacrifices, and years of hard work, we do not want money to be the reason he cannot properly celebrate this achievement.

For me as a mother, this is especially emotional. Kemal is my firstborn son, and this moment is something I simply cannot sweep under the rug or let pass by quietly. Watching him earn this degree, graduate with honors, and step into a profession centered around helping others has been one of the proudest moments of my life.

We created this GoFundMe to help cover the costs of traveling to Denver for his graduation ceremony, including flights, hotel accommodations, transportation, graduation-related expenses, and other costs associated with celebrating this important milestone. Because the ceremony is approaching soon, any support received in the coming days would help tremendously and bring us one step closer to making this celebration possible for him.

We also understand that some people may prefer to celebrate Kemal through a graduation gift or monetary contribution directly. Any amount — truly anything — means the world to our family. And if you’re unable to donate, simply sharing this page is just as appreciated.

Thank you for believing in Kemal, supporting his journey, and helping us celebrate such an important chapter in his life. We are deeply grateful for every kind word, prayer, donation, and share.

With love and appreciation,

Natasha & Family ❤️