Stop Taylor from giving up her education

My name is Taylor, and I’m a 24-year-old student from South Africa. My dream has always been to study abroad in Germany to get my international business degree, followed by my MBA. I achieved this, and I'm studying International Management at Deggendorf Institute of Technology.

I am about to have to give this all up. I have been studying online due to the pandemic and the travel bans imposed. However, this is no longer an issue, so hybrid classes/exams are no longer being offered. I have to be in Germany to write my next set of exams at the end of January 2023 or drop out. Something no one ever wants to have to do.

I cannot do this without a blocked account which allows me to apply for a student visa. This blocked account must have €10.521 (including fees). This amount is required by law and is the only thing holding me back.

I am unfortunately not in a position where my family can assist me with this. And I am currently working as a waitress to attend lectures during the day and sustain myself. I am unable to take out a student loan as most banks will bot give me one as a student/ waitress without someone to co-sign.

I had a plan at the beginning of this journey and was set with someone who was going to co-sign a student loan for me. However, this plan, unfortunately, fell through at the last minute, leaving me unsure of how to continue.

I am very independent, and naturally, I don’t enjoy asking for help. However, this degree affords me a range of incredible opportunities that I do not otherwise have ease of access to in South Africa. Dropping out due to a lack of funding is simply not an option I want to consider.

I have put incredible amounts of time and effort into making this dream a reality.

How it start...

I got a job to fund my gap year after high school as an au pair in Germany, where I was only reassured that Germany was where I wanted to study. After a year in Bonn, Germany, as an au pair, I had planned to apply to university and start pursuing my dream.

But, I put my dream on hold for a while.

My grandfather (my best friend), who, for the most part, raised me, had an autoimmune disease, and his condition worsened in 2018. I couldn’t let the man who gave everything to help me achieve all that I had, spend his last years without me there to help. So, I returned home to South Africa and enjoyed every moment with him. His battle ended in May 2019, and I have no regrets about putting my dream on hold because I honestly believe it’s never too late if you’re willing to work for it.

And now I'm here, fighting to keep this journey going.

More information about my degree and university can be found here:

https://www.th-deg.de/im-b-en/

Any funds will be put into my blocked account, which I have already opened with the recommended company, Fintiba:

https://www.fintiba.com/

I plan to pay it forward by being the one to fund another low-income student from South Africa once I graduate and am in a position to do so.

To find out more about me and my story, please feel free to get in contact with me here:

Email Address: [email redacted]

Please share my link and all contributions are greatly appreciated