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My name is Maria Ericka Galindo. I am a newly high school graduate from one of the most prestigious high schools in the U.S., Stanton College Preparatory School. This high school offers AP and IB courses. I was fortunate enough to graduate from such a prestigious high school as an IB recipient under the IB Program.
In search for better job oppotunities and education, my family moved to the U.S when I was 9 years old from the Philippines. My mom applied for a job in the U.S back in 2007 where she started teaching in South Carolina and a year later she was able to bring the rest of my family to live with her. My family has been living in the U.S for almost 10 years and have undergone multiple visa numbers and we are currently under a visa living in Florida. She has been working for almost 10 years in trying to obtain her greencard. As her dependant, my family's visa is the same as hers. We are not elligible to work freely. Therefore, my mom is the only person in the family working and all of her income are only enough to cover expenses for food, bills, and our home. As of right now, we are also paying our immigration lawyer due to our ongoing process of obtaining her greencard. She worked for many employers and because of that we moved frequently, especially when I was in middle school. In sixth grade, I went to three different middle schools all in one year with my mom hoping to find an employer that will sponsor her to get her greencard.
Depite all of my good grades, honor societies, several hundred hours of community and volunteer works I have completed and done all throughout middle school and high school, I am still not elligilble to apply for scholarships, grants, or any financial aids from the federal government because of requirements regarding my status. There are so many opportunities out there. However, since I am neither a U.S citizen nor a greencard holder, those oppotunities are not available to me. For example, being able to work. I have many friends that work and help out their families with their expenses. I want to do the same and help out my family with the expenses and even have some saved up for college but unfotunately I can't.
I want to attend the University of North Florida this summer as a Freshman. Before reaching out to everyone, I tried to apply for student loans. However, I was denied 4 times due to my status. I even had cosigners to help me with the applications, however, I was still denied. My sister is also in college so me going to college restricts us more, financially. We cannot afford to go to college at the same time on top of of the financial requirements that we have going for us.
I hope to become a physical therapist in the future. In doing so, I want to go to college and receive education in order to help myself and my family. While waiting for the ongoing process of getting my mother's greencard, I am asking for your help. Any donations will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance and thank you for taking the time to read my story.
In search for better job oppotunities and education, my family moved to the U.S when I was 9 years old from the Philippines. My mom applied for a job in the U.S back in 2007 where she started teaching in South Carolina and a year later she was able to bring the rest of my family to live with her. My family has been living in the U.S for almost 10 years and have undergone multiple visa numbers and we are currently under a visa living in Florida. She has been working for almost 10 years in trying to obtain her greencard. As her dependant, my family's visa is the same as hers. We are not elligible to work freely. Therefore, my mom is the only person in the family working and all of her income are only enough to cover expenses for food, bills, and our home. As of right now, we are also paying our immigration lawyer due to our ongoing process of obtaining her greencard. She worked for many employers and because of that we moved frequently, especially when I was in middle school. In sixth grade, I went to three different middle schools all in one year with my mom hoping to find an employer that will sponsor her to get her greencard.
Depite all of my good grades, honor societies, several hundred hours of community and volunteer works I have completed and done all throughout middle school and high school, I am still not elligilble to apply for scholarships, grants, or any financial aids from the federal government because of requirements regarding my status. There are so many opportunities out there. However, since I am neither a U.S citizen nor a greencard holder, those oppotunities are not available to me. For example, being able to work. I have many friends that work and help out their families with their expenses. I want to do the same and help out my family with the expenses and even have some saved up for college but unfotunately I can't.
I want to attend the University of North Florida this summer as a Freshman. Before reaching out to everyone, I tried to apply for student loans. However, I was denied 4 times due to my status. I even had cosigners to help me with the applications, however, I was still denied. My sister is also in college so me going to college restricts us more, financially. We cannot afford to go to college at the same time on top of of the financial requirements that we have going for us.
I hope to become a physical therapist in the future. In doing so, I want to go to college and receive education in order to help myself and my family. While waiting for the ongoing process of getting my mother's greencard, I am asking for your help. Any donations will be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance and thank you for taking the time to read my story.