My name is DeJa and I am wrapping up my Master of Social Work at the University of Houston. I currently have a $4,300 balance for the summer term due July 16th and am struggling to make ends meet between working full-time, a required internship for my degree, and my summer courses. During my time in the UH GCSW program, I was homeless for 4 months and have only recently gotten housing and am working to become stable, but I don’t want that to be jeopardized if I am so concerned with my school payments. If the balance is not paid on time, I forfeit the credits earned this term and will not receive my degree next month.

I am a 24 y/o St. Louis native and I was raised by my maternal grandmother after my parents were violently murdered when I was just 3 months old. My upbringing has not been the easiest and we haven’t always had the means, but I always had the hustle. I graduated high school with honors and proceeded to complete my Bachelor of Social Work at Fontbonne University in just 3 years.

I desire to give. I am passionate about EQUITY, SERVICE, and UNITY. I aim to be the kind of help my family and my community needed. My lived experiences only make me all the more fit for the role I seek to take on. Help me help us, thank you all in advance.