RU Graduating?

Hello everyone! My name is Veronica Echeverri and I am writing this post on behalf of my boyfriend, Carlos Zapata. I am asking you all today for help in hopes of getting Carlos to the finish line: graduation. This has been a long time coming for him and he’s had a lot of personal struggles along the way. He started at Rutgers University in the Fall of 2012. Many of you probably think “well shouldn’t he have graduated by now?” However, there’s a story behind everyone’s struggle. Like many first generation students, going to college is a culture shock. We become lost and unable to find the resources we need to succeed on our college campuses. His first couple years, like many students, he wasn't given proper guidance from his counselors on what classes to take and what will bring him one step closer to graduation. This is an example of how he needed to figure it out himself lost in a pool of 40,000+ students. 

After Fall 2015, this was when his financial, academic and home life started taking a hit. Unfortunately, his mother and little brother were moving from home to home due to personal complications. Carlos grew very depressed and anxious which caused his mental, physical and emotional health to further suffer. This all took a toll on his personal life, causing him to lose his financial aid in it's entirety from too many semester withdrawals. Many of you know, people from low socioeconomic statuses are more at risk for mental health illnesses due to the environmental factors that affect their well being. Carlos has been in and out of school these past couple years however, he was unable to pay his tuition. He is now 20 credits shy from graduating and has tried everything to get his financial aid back. It seems as though every resource he is directed to cannot help him. 

Carlos is one of the most humble and modest people I know. He doesn’t know I’m even writing this as we speak. But I want to help him accomplish this goal in order for him to move on with his career and be in a better place both financially and mentally. He is constantly putting others before himself and finding ways to help them when they’re struggling. His selflessness and compassion to be there for his mother, brothers and friends is what we all love most about him. At this time, I ask you all to help him in his time of need. Any donation helps and I thank you all for your support!