Hi everyone,

My name is Avery. I turned 18 recently, and for the past two years, I’ve been building my independence after having to leave home at 16 due to severe neglect and abuse from my father.

Without family to rely on and with my mother completely out of the picture, I had to figure out how to survive on my own. For the past year, I’ve been staying with a friend and working hard to manage basic living needs. Stepping away from an abusive situation without financial backing or family stability at 16 wasn't easy, but it taught me resilience and gave me a clear focus on building a safe, self-sufficient future.

My primary goal right now is to go to college, earn my business diploma, and build a stable career. However, paying for tuition, textbooks, transit passes, and essential living costs entirely on my own is a massive hurdle. I am working as much as I can and applying for all the student aid I qualify for, but there is still a significant financial gap to cover.

How your support will help:

Bullet Tuition & Program Fees: Direct coverage for upcoming college application and registration costs.

Bullet Course Materials & Supplies: Textbooks, software, and necessary study tools.

Bullet Basic Living Expenses: Monthly public transit passes and essential food/housing contributions while studying.

Even if you aren't able to donate, sharing this page with your network means the world to me. Thank you so much for reading my story and helping me take this next step toward my education and a better life.

— avery