Hello Everyone,

Thank you so much for taking a moment to read my fundraising story! My name is Talisa. I'm a forensic psychology major, a retail worker, and a dedicated nanny and babysitter. I’m reaching out in hopes of raising funds to help me through my final year of undergrad.

Right now, my most urgent challenge is covering the remainder of my tuition. I rely on FAFSA and TAP to fund my education, but this year, TAP fell short and fell through. Why? I honestly don’t know. I didn't get the answers I needed to understand the application issue from my college. So this has left me in a difficult predicament. I've dealt with financial aid issues in the past, but this time I have no additional support to bridge the gap. I currently owe about $1,000. Without it, I won’t be able to register for Fall classes and continue my journey toward graduation.

The jobs I work simply cannot cover this cost. Earlier in the year, as many retail workers will know and understand, hours were drastically cut after the holiday season. Every hour mattered for me, and the financial loss was significant. Around the same time, the family I work with as a nanny experienced a familial emergency, which meant I was without that necessary income as well.

Not having those jobs be consistent, especially right before the semester started, left me financially paralyzed. My bills went unpaid. Not for just one month, but now several. It is a snowball effect that most people living paycheck to paycheck deeply understand. Missing one monthly payment was akin to missing two, and missing two was like missing three payments. I couldn’t meet my credit card minimums, transportation to campus became a struggle, and I often went without meals at work and on campus. I simply couldn't afford to eat some days. On top of that, my class schedule meant I had to reduce my work hours, especially since my education is my top priority. What little income I had went toward textbooks and essential class-related expenses. Everything else had to fall to the wayside.

At this point, every major bill, including my phone, therapy balance, groceries, and credit card payments, has gone unpaid. I rely on wifi to check emails and send texts. Some nights dinner is an egg and rice. The support I was receiving through therapy has vanished. I’ve maxed out what little credit I had just to stay afloat. And now, with summer slowing down both retail hours and childcare work again, I’m left with almost no income. The reality is humbling, and beyond that, horrendously scary.

I had truly hoped to handle this on my own. I’ve tried everything I could before turning to others for help. I've reduced every expense I could safely afford to go without. But I’ve hit a point where I can no longer do this by myself. This is the lowest I’ve ever been and the worst I've ever felt, and asking for help is not easy for me, but I know it’s become necessary.

Despite everything, I’m holding onto hope. I trust that God is still moving in this, and that better days are coming! I continue to work every hour I can and am actively searching for stable, flexible, and meaningful employment that will support me through graduation and hopefully grad school!

My dream is to become a therapist for children and adolescents recovering from abusive situations. I’m deeply passionate about helping the next generation heal and thrive, and finishing my degree without such a heavy burden on my shoulders is the next step on that path.

Any help, truly, any, would mean the absolute world to me! It would allow me to focus on what matters most: learning, growing, and preparing to give back to those who need it most. I promise your support will never be taken for granted.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you!

With love and gratitude,


Talisa N.