My name is Rashid. I'm a former teacher & aspiring attorney who needs help. I graduated law school in May 2024, and am trying to fund my prep for the bar exam at the end of February. Although I cast a wide net, I was unemployed for 5 months, depleting whatever I had saved for bar prep. While I recently found a legal job, without a bar license and in this tough job market, I'm struggling to make ends meet. I make $20/hour working full-time, and by the time I pay my bills, I can't even buy myself lunch. I'm subsisting on the snacks in the break room.

I do not take this lightly and I struggled to air out my financial woes. As I face pressure from my school to begin bar prep, my worries are about whether I can keep the lights on.

I've already purchased my bar prep program and paid for the exam, which will be set in Austin. I anticipate my expenses during bar prep would be about $2500/mo, This money would be for my living expenses as I cut my hours at work to focus on studying, as well as to pay for the hotel I need to book for the duration of the exam.

The bar exam is a 2-day exam held twice a year, and it's the last step before I can become a licensed attorney. Doing well on the bar exam means devoting to studying full-time for 2 to 3 months. This is why it's imperative for me to raise living expenses while I focus on my studies.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I have a lot of pride, but my spirit is worn down. Anything helps at this point.