Max's Dream: MSSW at Columbia University

Hi everyone, my name is Max, and I’m thrilled to share that I’ve been accepted into the Master of Social Work (MSSW) program at Columbia University, starting this January!

This is a dream come true; as a Black, disabled, low-income student, I need your support to make it happen.

Why I’m Pursuing Social Work:

I’ve always been passionate about advocacy and social justice, particularly for marginalized communities. As someone who has faced systemic barriers firsthand, I want to dedicate my career to supporting others navigating those same challenges. Earning my MSSW will equip me with the skills and knowledge to create meaningful change. I want to be part of a growing change in social work that focuses on reconstructing hierarchies and embraces personal experience as part of academic and social justice work.

The Challenges I Face:

My journey to this point hasn’t been easy. Over the course of my undergrad degree, I was diagnosed with Meniere's disease, reoccurring lung infections from asthma complications, including pneumonia and bronchitis and recently began suffering from gallbladder attacks, all of which significantly limit my ability to maintain stable employment during months between undergrad and grad school and my first semester.

Despite these challenges, I’ve maintained a 3.9 GPA at Smith, interned with Ms. Magazine, maintained a fellowship on feminist public writing, won several awards for both my public and academic writing, had my work published in both local and global magazines including the Hampshire Gazette and Whetstone Magazine, managed the social media for The Truth School- a social justice leadership and education nonprofit, nannied, bartended, worked horrible hours at a retail store and committed to a ridiculous commute in pursuit of my education at Smith College (3 hours each way 2-3 days a week for 3 years) and now I will become a first-generation graduate student.

However as my illnesses flare up and worsen I am no longer able to maintain this level of work, and the financial burden is immense. Columbia's tuition, housing, and other living expenses far exceed what I can manage while I am awaiting and recovering from surgery. Coming from a low-income background, I lack the financial safety net many others might have, and traditional funding options often don’t fully account for the additional costs associated with living with various chronic illnesses.

How You Can Help:

I’m asking for your help to cover the costs of the first semester while I am recovering from gallbladder surgery including:

Tuition and fees

Housing and living expenses

Medical expenses

Books, materials, and technology needed for my coursework

Every contribution, no matter the size, brings me closer to achieving this dream. Sharing this campaign with your network would mean the world to me if you can't donate.

My goal is to use the knowledge I gained in undergrad, which focused on Black feminist ways of knowing, in order to become the a therapist that is able to look at all the ways in which oppressive social structures impact our mental health and use holistic, and personal approach to help patients from backgrounds like mine find inner peace, and joy.

It has always been difficult for me to reach out to the community when I need help, but as I begin the next journey of my life, I have realized that part of building community is being willing to show that I myself also need help.

Audre Lorde stated, "Without community, there is no liberation," so I am reaching out to the community for support, help and guidance.

Thank you all so much!

Max