Hi, my name is Riley Shelton, and I’m currently a college student that planned to graduate with a degree in philosophy and double minors in business and religious studies with Cal Poly Humboldt.

I never imagined I would be in this position, but I am asking for help after being forced to leave my study abroad program due to serious safety concerns.

While studying abroad in Chiang Mai, Thailand through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), I experienced a situation that made it impossible for me to safely continue. I was exposed to deeply violating and unsafe circumstances involving non-consensual recordings and disturbing content that I later discovered. Despite trying to seek help, I did not receive the support or protection I needed at the time.

I made the difficult decision to leave for my safety.

Because of this, I am now facing severe financial consequences. My departure has been classified as a “withdrawal,” and I am being asked to repay thousands of dollars in financial aid—more than what I originally received. My student account is currently on hold, and my eligibility for future financial aid is at risk.

I want to be very clear: I did not choose to leave—I had to.

I am now back in the United States trying to rebuild stability on my own. I do not have financial support from my family, and I am doing everything I can to navigate this situation responsibly. I am actively working, contacting my university, and pursuing formal complaints, but these processes take time—and the financial pressure is immediate.

To add I am experience serious recovery from falling out of a red truck in Thailand and crashing on my left side of my body.

As a reminder, I am in my final semester, and this situation is now putting my graduation at risk.

I am asking for help to cover:

Immediate living expenses

Financial aid repayment pressure

Basic needs while I stabilize

My goal is to stay in school, graduate, and move forward from this experience.

Any support—whether it’s a donation or simply sharing this—means more than I can express.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for supporting me during a really difficult moment in my life.

— Riley Shelton