Support Nalani's Journey To Medical School
Donation protected
BREAKING NEWS: As of June 10th we officially reached our fundraising goal! I would again like to THANK everyone that not only donated but those who also shared my story with your circles. You helped relieve a huge financial burden for my family, and for that I am eternally grateful.
Donations are still welcomed! Any additional funds will go towards paying off my outstanding student loans at Mills College ($23,000).
WISCONSIN HERE I COME!
- Nalani Wakinekona
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Help Me Start Medical School in Wisconsin
My Journey
Despite the world telling me that Black girls shouldn’t strive to be scientists, I discovered that I loved biology during my first rat dissection at Chadwick School. I followed my love for science at Stanford University, where I concentrated in Infectious Disease and Global Health. My passion for science went beyond the classroom as I mentored first-generation and low-income students pursuing careers in science through the Leland Scholars Program. I also facilitated after-school programs for high school students interested in health careers during my AmeriCorps term in rural Southwest Oregon.
These experiences showed me that a career in medicine was the best way for me to fight for social justice in my community. As a Black, Native Hawaiian woman raised by a single mother who worked a minimum wage job most of my life, I recognized the endless obstacles that many communities face in their day-to-day lives, and I knew that I would use medicine to heal my community. In no time at all it was very clear to me that I was meant to be a doctor.
Medical School Here I Come
I am incredibly excited to announce that I will be attending medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Medical school would not be possible without the love and support of my family and friends. As the first person in my family to go to college, I feel blessed to be on this path, and I look forward to the day that I can give back to the loving, supportive, eclectic community that supported me every step of the way.
How You Can Help
Starting medical school in another state requires more resources than my family or I currently have. Unfortunately, Covid-19 hit my family hard. My mother and sister both contracted Covid-19, and my sister was hospitalized for a short time. Thankfully they recovered, but we have all suffered contract terminations and reduced working hours. We are also now facing steep hospital and medical bills. These circumstances greatly reduced our ability to afford my medical school start-up expenses.
The expenses involved in driving from California to Wisconsin, completing the pre-matriculation requirements, and setting up in a new city quickly add up. We will need these funds by July 10, 2020. These expenses include gas/food/lodging while traveling ($1,300.00), scheduled maintenance and weather-proofing for my car ($647.26), registering my car in Wisconsin ($300.00), ship boxes to Wisconsin ($408.44), furniture and essential home items ($1,600.00), cooking and dining items ($200.00), electronics ($1,900.00), stethoscope and equipment package ($221.72), adult and pediatric CPR and AED course ($97.00), pantry staples ($300.00), college health prerequisites ($200.00), half a month’s room and board plus deposit ($1,275.00), and other personal items ($200.00). The Medical College of Wisconsin will provide financial aid that covers most of the cost of living and tuition during the school year, but unfortunately the finances to transition to Wisconsin and start medical school are not provided.
Please consider donating to help me continue my journey to medical school and start my new life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Healing others’ bodies and minds is my lifelong dream, and any donation, no matter how small, will bring me one step closer to that dream. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Thank you in advance for any donations. I truly can’t put into words what your support means to me.
Donations are still welcomed! Any additional funds will go towards paying off my outstanding student loans at Mills College ($23,000).
WISCONSIN HERE I COME!
- Nalani Wakinekona
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Help Me Start Medical School in Wisconsin
My Journey
Despite the world telling me that Black girls shouldn’t strive to be scientists, I discovered that I loved biology during my first rat dissection at Chadwick School. I followed my love for science at Stanford University, where I concentrated in Infectious Disease and Global Health. My passion for science went beyond the classroom as I mentored first-generation and low-income students pursuing careers in science through the Leland Scholars Program. I also facilitated after-school programs for high school students interested in health careers during my AmeriCorps term in rural Southwest Oregon.
These experiences showed me that a career in medicine was the best way for me to fight for social justice in my community. As a Black, Native Hawaiian woman raised by a single mother who worked a minimum wage job most of my life, I recognized the endless obstacles that many communities face in their day-to-day lives, and I knew that I would use medicine to heal my community. In no time at all it was very clear to me that I was meant to be a doctor.
Medical School Here I Come
I am incredibly excited to announce that I will be attending medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. Medical school would not be possible without the love and support of my family and friends. As the first person in my family to go to college, I feel blessed to be on this path, and I look forward to the day that I can give back to the loving, supportive, eclectic community that supported me every step of the way.
How You Can Help
Starting medical school in another state requires more resources than my family or I currently have. Unfortunately, Covid-19 hit my family hard. My mother and sister both contracted Covid-19, and my sister was hospitalized for a short time. Thankfully they recovered, but we have all suffered contract terminations and reduced working hours. We are also now facing steep hospital and medical bills. These circumstances greatly reduced our ability to afford my medical school start-up expenses.
The expenses involved in driving from California to Wisconsin, completing the pre-matriculation requirements, and setting up in a new city quickly add up. We will need these funds by July 10, 2020. These expenses include gas/food/lodging while traveling ($1,300.00), scheduled maintenance and weather-proofing for my car ($647.26), registering my car in Wisconsin ($300.00), ship boxes to Wisconsin ($408.44), furniture and essential home items ($1,600.00), cooking and dining items ($200.00), electronics ($1,900.00), stethoscope and equipment package ($221.72), adult and pediatric CPR and AED course ($97.00), pantry staples ($300.00), college health prerequisites ($200.00), half a month’s room and board plus deposit ($1,275.00), and other personal items ($200.00). The Medical College of Wisconsin will provide financial aid that covers most of the cost of living and tuition during the school year, but unfortunately the finances to transition to Wisconsin and start medical school are not provided.
Please consider donating to help me continue my journey to medical school and start my new life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Healing others’ bodies and minds is my lifelong dream, and any donation, no matter how small, will bring me one step closer to that dream. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this. Thank you in advance for any donations. I truly can’t put into words what your support means to me.
Organizer
Malia Wakinekona
Organizer
Mountain View, CA