Meet my daughter, Lahni Snow, a recent top graduate of Oakland Tech, and an incoming freshman at San Jose State University. Lahni is ready for college – she loved the SJSU campus, likes her dorm roommate, is registered for classes, and is excited to move in on August 19th.

But there’s a major obstacle in her path. She still needs help paying for her first two semesters.

I would give anything to be able to send her off to college secure in the knowledge that all her needs have been met, but I can’t. I’m a single, “working poor” mother who perpetually struggles to make ends meet, working from paycheck to paycheck.

I don't have any assets or own a car, and without Section 8, I would not be able to afford the monthly rent on our apartment. Thankfully, while we have never gone hungry or without our most basic needs, money is still tight every month.

We have been preparing for Lahni to go off to college ever since she was in middle school. And though we did our very best, even with all our efforts, we still fell short. Despite receiving some grants and a partial scholarship, and working two part-time jobs, Lahni still needs an additional $8,000 per semester for tuition, room, board, and books.

It was this shortage that prompted us to turn to GoFundMe.

For the last three years, Lahni has worked for Oakland Trybe, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to break cycles of suffering and violence through the power of beloved community.”

Working for Trybe has inspired her deeply. She wants to use her college degree to make a difference in the world and to uplift neighborhoods like hers by following in Trybe’s footsteps. Her Trybe mentor, Andrew Park, constantly advised her to always reach for the stars and work hard to obtain her goals.

Attending college is Lahni’s way of reaching those stars.

Unfortunately, ours is in a demographic that tends to stay economically disadvantaged; Lahni is a child of color who grew up in an impoverished community, without many essential resources or any special privileges.

Nevertheless, Lahni has always been determined to succeed, despite the odds stacked against her. She is an inspiration, constantly overcoming the countless challenges that life presents her.

Throughout high school, she took AP classes and graduated with a 3.8 GPA, which placed her on the OUSD African American Honor Roll. Lahni has worked so hard to get to this point. It would be devastating not to be able to move forward now.

Can you help us achieve our dream of sending Lahni to San Jose State University? Every donation, of any size, is a blessing and will help make a difference.

Thank you for your kind attention.