New Goal: $8,000 (Previously $25,000. We’ve already made incredible progress!)

Update:

Thanks to the generosity of my community, I’ve been able to raise $1,500 so far, which allowed me to start a payment plan toward my final semester. Even more amazing news, my tuition is now fully covered through some gracious payment arrangements by some amazing workers in financial aid! I now only need to raise $8,000 over the next five months to cover essential fees, housing, and what Financial Aid was unable to cover so I can graduate this December without additional financial setbacks.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you to everyone who has donated, shared, and encouraged me, you’ve helped me clear the biggest obstacle in my path. Now, I just need your help to finish strong. Thank you for returning the community I have worked hard to make!!

My name is Ash, and I’m a 23-year-old, first-generation student, one semester away from graduating with three degrees. These degrees aren’t just academic goals; they’re a promise I made to the woman who raised me.

My grandmother was more than just my guardian; she was my everything. She taught me compassion, strength, and how to lead with love, even when life was unforgiving. She believed in education as liberation. We used to dream together about the day I’d cross the stage, degrees in hand, and how proud she’d be in the front row.

She never got to see that day.

In 2021, I lost her suddenly and devastatingly. The grief pulled me out of school and forced me into survival mode. She was my home, my support system, my anchor. Her absence left me emotionally broken and financially alone. When I returned to school, it was as an independent student, navigating my healing while trying to honor everything she poured into me.

I’ve done everything I can to stay afloat:

And still, I’ve hit a wall. I’m $25,000 short of what I need for tuition alone this fall. I have no cosigner, no safety net, and no extra time or resources left to stretch.

But I’m so close. Closer than I’ve ever been to fulfilling everything my grandmother and I hoped for. These aren’t just degrees. They’re our dream. They’re her legacy, and they’re my proof of survival.

I’m earning degrees in:

Through my time at John Carroll University, I’ve not only pursued my education, but I’ve also served and uplifted my community and others every step of the way:

My long-term goal is to become a Clinical Psychologist and certified herbalist, offering trauma-informed, community-rooted care for all people. I want to build a “village”, a healing space grounded in everything my grandmother taught me about love, community, and strength.

What Your Support Covers:

While my total fall expenses (tuition, housing, and fees) come to $37,630, I am only asking for help with tuition, which is the biggest obstacle between me and graduation. I’ve done all I can. I’m at my limit. And I’m asking, humbly, for help.

If you’ve ever believed in me, supported my work, or been moved by my story, I’m asking for your support now. A donation of any amount helps me take one more step toward the finish line. If you can’t give, please share this link; your share could connect me to someone who can.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for seeing me. And thank you for helping me carry my grandmother’s legacy across the stage with me.

With all my heart and gratitude,

Ash