Hello everyone,

My name is Arianna, and I’m a college freshman in the Honors College at IU Indianapolis, and I’m asking for help raising $1,500 to cover the cost of my plane ticket to Panama for an upcoming study abroad and service learning trip this cost is due at the end of January so anything helps.

This opportunity means more to me than I can fully put into words.

Through my Honors College program, I was selected to travel to Panama where my class and I will be volunteering directly with local Panamanian communities, working on projects centered around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). we will also be rebuilding some of the community as well. While we’re there, we’ll be learning from the community, giving back through hands on service, and helping create sustainable solutions that support education, environmental responsibility, and long-term community well-being.

The Honors College is generously providing a stipend that covers my housing and food during the trip something I am incredibly grateful for —but transportation is not covered, and that means I am responsible for paying for my entire plane ticket on my own.

I’ve been doing everything I can to make this happen. I’m currently working two jobs, balancing work with classes, and I’m a full time d1 diver so I have practices daily. Another challenge is I’ve had to pay for my own tuition and college expenses. Even with all of that, I still haven’t been able to save enough to afford this ticket on my own. No matter how many extra shifts I pick up, $1,500 is a lot for a freshman trying to build a future from the ground up.

This trip isn’t a vacation. I’m volunteering to go because I truly believe in using my education to give back, not just take. Being able to work alongside Panamanian communities, listen to their needs, and help support sustainable development is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life and will help me build expertise and experience for my future career as a lawyer. This experience will shape how I show up in the world and how I work to make it more equitable, compassionate, and sustainable.

Every dollar donated goes directly toward my plane ticket and helps make it possible for me to represent my school, my Honors College, and myself while serving others. Your support doesn’t just help me get on a plane it helps strengthen global connections, uplift communities, and invest in a future where students are empowered to make real change.

If you’re unable to donate, even sharing this means more than you know. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for believing in students like me who are trying to make a difference, even when the road there is hard.

With so much gratitude, ❤️

Arianna