Hello, my name is Marquia Long. I normally don’t do things like this but I really need help with paying off some of my debt for college. I’ve took out as many loans as I could, and I’ve worked odd jobs and would even try to make money in various ways. When I was 18 years old, I was kicked out of my house because I had different beliefs than my family had and I was unfortunately in a situation where I had to make a serious decision about my life.

I chose the decision that would allow me to pursue college and graduate as a first generation college student. I wanted to break the curse and so I’m 3 years into college !

Unfortunately, every year I struggle with paying off excess money that I owed to Harris Stowe. My freshmen year of college was by far the worst year of my life. I had no real contact with my immediate family. I was shunned and wasn’t allowed to come home. It hurt me really bad. I felt like they didn’t love me and it spiraled into a deep depression worse than what I already had going on. I put it behind me and worked towards having a better life and every thing  was going pretty good. I was enrolled in 15 credit hours, was running track and by October that app changed. 

I was sexually assaulted in October of my freshmen year and my depression returned. I had no drive, no focus and I dropped most of my classes because of low attendance. I was struggling financially and tried so hard to balance everything. I would write essays for other students and I would tutor them in writing better essays. I was so focused on that because it seemed like it was the only thing I was good at. I loved writing. It allowed me to express myself and it helped with a lot of my dark thoughts. I considered suicide 3 times within that year and it wasn’t that I was wanted to die, it was more that I didn’t feel like I was alive . I didn’t feel like anybody cared, I felt so alone and hurt but didn’t want to share it with anybody because it seemed like people didn’t believe me or that they didn’t care too much about it.

It was a dark place for me and eventually I made it out. By second semester, I passed every class and I was on track to being a better student. I was still struggling financially because living on campus was what was costing me so much. If I didn’t live on campus, I would be going to school forfree with my financial aid. I’ve been doingwhat I can to get my balance lower and I really need help. 

on campus housing is my safe space. I was waitlisted for housing & campus housing is the only consistent housing since living with my mom isn’t really an option. With COVID, I didn’t have a choice and it’s been hell living here. I am constantly mentally abused and manipulated by my step dad.. He thinks of me in a very bad light and being in the house isn’t good for me mentally. He manipulates to make it seem like we have a perfect family but we do not. 

I am asking for help because throughout the summer I wasn’t able to work because of COVID & my mom needed me to babysit my younger sisters. I wasn’t able to work and make as much money with writing essays since most people weren’t in school. Ive been paying off what I can pay offand I’ve applied for loans and even convinced my mom & grandma to help me but I still need assistance. Anything really helps. 

all of the money will go to my account balance of $2541.28.

I am so thankful if you made it this far to read this paragraph. I am extremely grateful that you took the time to understand my story the past 2 years.
If you donate any money at all please send me a dm and I’ll paint you a nice thank you note of whatever painting you’d like. 

thank you so much. 

instagram: Senshi.Q