My name is Najla. I am the first person in my family to go to college in quite a few generations. I grew up in poverty in a physically and mentally abusive two-parent household with seven kids. I am desperately trying to break the cycle. But I do need help.

When I was 11, my 13-year-old brother, the sibling I was closest to, ended his own life in front of me. He passed a few hours later. My parents never got help for any of us. Instead, I was indirectly blamed for his death and quickly became the new target for destruction. I was blamed for most of the problems in the marriage and the household, and I never really was able to process anything properly. Fast forward to when I was 16, it was agreed that I would be sent to Job Corps. It was meant to 'straighten me out,' but it ended up being the best, most freeing time I had ever had.

It helped me realize there was much more to life than what I had been given or told about.

I started working at 17 and a half, and continued to try and reinvent who I was and figure out what I liked to do.

At 20 after a few unsuccessful attempts to end myself, I finally realized that I needed some kind of help and reached out to a therapist.

She taught me about boundaries, helped me build my self-esteem, worked through many of the traumas, and overall helped me realize my self-worth.

At 22, I released 3 children's books into my community that I wrote and self published, that touches on mental health in an indirect way. Touching on themes like depression after losing a loved one, and self image and acceptance.

I will be working full time, while commiting to accelerated BS and MS classes online.

The total cost of studies, not including state tests and licensing is $64,000 after a 25% school scholarship.

These funds will help me to avoid taking out massive loans and help prevent the cycle of debt and poverty. When you help me, you are helping to create a warm, safe, empathetic environment for people down the road who need it.

My end goal is to pursue my Bachelor's and Master's in Psychology and eventually become a Mental Health Counselor to learn and eventually be able to be there for struggling humans like myself and make a difference in the world.

I aim to continue writing and publishing children's books with storylines that help with hard mental health themes.

A gift to me, is a gift to the world