Support Karlié's MFA Dream in Las Vegas

Hello! My name is Karlié Rodríguez, and I am an autistic emerging writer and scholar from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. I have a BA in English from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez (UPRM), an MA in English Studies from Illinois State University (ISU), and am graduating from Emory University's English PhD program in July 2025. I have been admitted to the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing (nonfiction) program at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and I am super excited to begin this new adventure! But to do that, I need your help.

For the past three years, I have been writing a memoir about the grief of losing my mother in the aftermath of Hurricane María. I applied to MFA programs with the hopes of securing funding, mentorship, and a community of supportive peers to help me see my book through. However, getting admitted into the program was only the first step. During my first conversation with my mentor-to-be, he gave me what he described as "the best advice he could give me:" to bring a cushion with me. He said this to me in Spanish, using the word "colchón," which can also translate to mattress. I stared at him blankly, trying to decipher what he meant. I was about to say "Oh, no problem, I plan to bring my bed with me," when context clues alerted me to what he actually meant: "A cushion of money!" After I hung up with him, I laughed at myself so hard because it is moments like this, when I believe myself queen of the world, that my autism pokes its cute little head around and humbles me!

After I finished laughing, I started to panic. Two years ago, my doctoral funding ran out, meaning I covered the last two years of my PhD program with my own money. I thought about quitting the program many times because writing my dissertation, my memoir, and working all kinds of jobs to sustain myself felt like an impossible uphill climb. But I persevered. Not just because I love learning, teaching, and sharing knowledge, but because it was important to me to make myself and my late mother proud. My mother gave up so much of her own life so I could fulfill my dreams, and that is why I refused to give up on them myself!

While my MFA program is fully funded, a beautiful and rare position to be in, they do not cover the costs of moving. I currently live on the East Coast of the United States, in the city of Atlanta, Georgia. My new program is located in Las Vegas, Nevada, which is on the West Coast. Nearly 2000 miles and $10,000 stand between me and my new home, between me and my goal to finish my book.

What does $10,000 cover? I am glad you asked. With this money, I will pay for the following things:

1. A moving pod shipped from Atlanta to Las Vegas [East Coast --> West Coast ]

2. Driving from Atlanta to Las Vegas [30 hours and 2000 miles]

3. Rent [while I wait to get my first paycheck]

4. Moving supplies

5. Student fees, books, and school supplies

6. A small "colchón" ️

If you have gotten this far, thank you so much for reading my story! If you decide to donate, please know that you are not only helping me fulfill my goal of becoming a writer, but you are alleviating some of my financial burdens so I may continue serving the communities I love.

With infinite gratitude,

Karlié

P.S. If you become a donor, and you'd like to receive a handwritten Thank You note from me, please share your address with me by using this link: https://www.postable.com/karlarodriguez5