Help Me Attend Harvard
Donation protected
First of all, if you found your way to this web page I just want to thank you for taking time out of your day to be here.
I've never done anything like this, so I guess I'll start with an introduction. My name is Aneudy Rodriguez, and I am a young 22 year old Afro-Latino male from Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up in my beloved Roxbury neighborhood, which played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today. I learned not to take anything for granted including things like; education, opportunities, and life. I grew up in a neighborhood where hearing police and ambulance sirens on a nightly basis was part of the norm. I grew up in a neighborhood where one couldn't walk down a main street for more than five blocks without seeing a liquor store. It's easier to find a check casher/ Western Union than it is to find a bank. Homelessness, unemployment, population density, violence, drug abuse, are all social problems that I viewed as normal parts of life.
Seeing so many people with less opportunity than I had really taught me to be selfless, and give back in any way that I could. My passion for supporting youth who grew up in similar ways as me, is what pushed me to want to work in the education sector, specifically as a school counselor.
I attained my undergraduate degree in sociology from Boston University in three and a half years, thanks to AP credits from high school. I entered the university undecided on a major. I then declared an English major, with aspirations that I’d become a high school English teacher. My time as an English major was very short-lived. I decided that there was not enough money in the teaching profession, and I wanted to major in something that would help me make more money. So, I switched to economics. I felt guilty for choosing a major based on money, rather than choosing something that I was passionate in. I switched, for the last time, to sociology. Aside from the fact that I was interested in the subject, I figured that this major would help give me the right set of tools needed to work with youth. The most essential tools being the different lenses I've been equipped with. Many of the readings I did during my time as an undergrad helped me look at one situation in a multitude of ways. It really helped me understand that although people grew up in a similar environment as me, their experiences can vary vastly.
I decided that I wanted to become a school counselor, and I spent some time interning at a Boston Public School with the school department to ensure that it was truly what I wanted to do. The school counselor who I worked with, Mr. Goncalves, came from a similar neighborhood as me. His reasoning for wanting to get into this line of work was very similar to mine. I asked him why he does this job, and he told he me he gets a genuine joy from it. From building relationships with students, and helping them reach their goals and going beyond them.
As you could imagine, the day that I got my acceptance letter to attend Harvard Graduate School of Education was one of the happiest proudest days of my life. I have always had an affinity for Harvard, but I never thought I'd be given an opportunity to study there. I didn't apply to Harvard for undergrad because I was not confident in my ability to get in. I was even skeptical about my chances of getting into the program as a graduate student. But my outlook now is very different than it was four years ago. The only shot missed is the shot not taken. I would have been doing myself a disservice by not pushing myself.
Everybody around me was so happy and proud of me, it felt really good. A feeling I never really had before. People I grew up with were calling me all day telling me how excited they were for me. It dawned on me that "my success" was not solely mine. I did not complete my undergraduate degree just to do it, just because I’m supposed to, or just for myself. I did it for those around me, for my community, for my family and friends, and for anybody else who does not truly feel like they have a chance. My acceptance to Harvard felt like my neighborhood's acceptance to Harvard.
Just as getting admitted to Harvard was a dream, receiving my financial aid award was a hard dose of reality. I was given a 5000 dollar grant from Harvard, and was given a 20,500 dollar loan. My family and I would struggle to pay for this, so I'm seeking outside assistance to pay for the two year Prevention Science Program in Adolescent counseling. I set my goal for this campaign at 30,000 because this will cover my gap for the first year, and it will help pay the loan. If my goal is not reached, any amount would be appreciated, as I am aware that 30,000 dollars is steep.
Every dollar would truly be appreciated. To those who have taken the time to read this, thank you very much. Even if you are unable to donate, I would love if you just shared this amongst your peers. A share can be just as helpful as a donation.
Thank you all!
I've never done anything like this, so I guess I'll start with an introduction. My name is Aneudy Rodriguez, and I am a young 22 year old Afro-Latino male from Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up in my beloved Roxbury neighborhood, which played a pivotal role in shaping who I am today. I learned not to take anything for granted including things like; education, opportunities, and life. I grew up in a neighborhood where hearing police and ambulance sirens on a nightly basis was part of the norm. I grew up in a neighborhood where one couldn't walk down a main street for more than five blocks without seeing a liquor store. It's easier to find a check casher/ Western Union than it is to find a bank. Homelessness, unemployment, population density, violence, drug abuse, are all social problems that I viewed as normal parts of life.
Seeing so many people with less opportunity than I had really taught me to be selfless, and give back in any way that I could. My passion for supporting youth who grew up in similar ways as me, is what pushed me to want to work in the education sector, specifically as a school counselor.
I attained my undergraduate degree in sociology from Boston University in three and a half years, thanks to AP credits from high school. I entered the university undecided on a major. I then declared an English major, with aspirations that I’d become a high school English teacher. My time as an English major was very short-lived. I decided that there was not enough money in the teaching profession, and I wanted to major in something that would help me make more money. So, I switched to economics. I felt guilty for choosing a major based on money, rather than choosing something that I was passionate in. I switched, for the last time, to sociology. Aside from the fact that I was interested in the subject, I figured that this major would help give me the right set of tools needed to work with youth. The most essential tools being the different lenses I've been equipped with. Many of the readings I did during my time as an undergrad helped me look at one situation in a multitude of ways. It really helped me understand that although people grew up in a similar environment as me, their experiences can vary vastly.
I decided that I wanted to become a school counselor, and I spent some time interning at a Boston Public School with the school department to ensure that it was truly what I wanted to do. The school counselor who I worked with, Mr. Goncalves, came from a similar neighborhood as me. His reasoning for wanting to get into this line of work was very similar to mine. I asked him why he does this job, and he told he me he gets a genuine joy from it. From building relationships with students, and helping them reach their goals and going beyond them.
As you could imagine, the day that I got my acceptance letter to attend Harvard Graduate School of Education was one of the happiest proudest days of my life. I have always had an affinity for Harvard, but I never thought I'd be given an opportunity to study there. I didn't apply to Harvard for undergrad because I was not confident in my ability to get in. I was even skeptical about my chances of getting into the program as a graduate student. But my outlook now is very different than it was four years ago. The only shot missed is the shot not taken. I would have been doing myself a disservice by not pushing myself.
Everybody around me was so happy and proud of me, it felt really good. A feeling I never really had before. People I grew up with were calling me all day telling me how excited they were for me. It dawned on me that "my success" was not solely mine. I did not complete my undergraduate degree just to do it, just because I’m supposed to, or just for myself. I did it for those around me, for my community, for my family and friends, and for anybody else who does not truly feel like they have a chance. My acceptance to Harvard felt like my neighborhood's acceptance to Harvard.
Just as getting admitted to Harvard was a dream, receiving my financial aid award was a hard dose of reality. I was given a 5000 dollar grant from Harvard, and was given a 20,500 dollar loan. My family and I would struggle to pay for this, so I'm seeking outside assistance to pay for the two year Prevention Science Program in Adolescent counseling. I set my goal for this campaign at 30,000 because this will cover my gap for the first year, and it will help pay the loan. If my goal is not reached, any amount would be appreciated, as I am aware that 30,000 dollars is steep.
Every dollar would truly be appreciated. To those who have taken the time to read this, thank you very much. Even if you are unable to donate, I would love if you just shared this amongst your peers. A share can be just as helpful as a donation.
Thank you all!
Organizer and beneficiary
Aneudy Rodriguez
Organizer
Boston, MA
Barbara Ramos
Beneficiary