Hello, my name is Caleb. I’m from New Haven, CT, and I come from a small, humble, but proud family who has always supported and celebrated my every achievement. I love reading — for knowledge, enlightenment, and empowerment. If you know me, you know I love playing basketball and mentoring the youth. Which is why I enjoy working part-time at my local community center, and I’ve spent the past three summers serving as both an enrichment counselor and basketball coach.

Education has always been important to me. As a high school senior,

I was blessed to receive 18 college and university acceptance letters. Even though Howard is widely revered as the most prestigious HBCU, what sealed the deal for me was the university's academic scholarship offer was the highest. I like to say Howard chose me once, but I chose them twice (IYKYK).

I am now a senior majoring in Computer Science, determined to finish strong and earn my degree. But right now, I’m facing a serious financial challenge that could prevent me from graduating.

When Howard switched to the new Workday system, we no longer had access to the previous one. According to the Bursar’s Office, a technology glitch failed to transfer balances from what looks like the 2023-2024 academic year. Can you imagine getting your balance down to zero, your account in front of your say amount owed $0.00, then out of no where and $11,000 balance from a year ago just pops up?

Although my family and I continue to question how this happened, we have requested a side-by-side, line-by-line comparison of charges between the old and new systems to fully understand the error. Unfortunately, while we wait for answers, the Bursar’s Office has made it clear that I must bring my balance under $5,000 in order to register for fall classes and avoid collections.

We submitted one of the payment plans offered by HU, and advised there are some emergency funds the university has available. The instructions were not to request these funds, accounts will be reviewed and applied as determined by the team. Not only did the plan we chose get rejected, I wasn't offered any emergency funds.

As if this wasn’t overwhelming enough, my mom who has had very little help with our care and wellbeing, has done a tremendous job raising and supporting my sisters and I to this point in time, was recently laid off. I recall my mom saying many times “You have not, because you ask not. Of course I’d rather a private ask, but this calls for a public one. I am here putting any pride aside, asking for your assistance.

Today, classes have already started — but I am not in one. I have just 15 days left to enroll, and time is running out.

I have always been a dedicated, disciplined, and focused student, committed to achieving my goals. Your support — whether through a donation or by sharing this campaign — will help me bring my balance down, secure my classes, and stay on track to graduate. Every contribution helps me get one step closer to crossing the stage graduating, celebrating my degree.

If I am blessed to raise more than what is needed to reduce my balance below $5,000, all additional funds will go directly toward lowering my full $11,000 balance and supporting my future semesters at Howard. I am deeply grateful for your generosity.

Thank you so much for reading my story and for supporting me during this critical moment.