Hello, my name is Sandra Igitego, and I am currently in my final semester of the Master of Science in Engineering Management program at Tufts University.

Coming to the United States as an international student to pursue graduate education has been one of the most meaningful opportunities of my life. It has also required many sacrifices and a great deal of resilience. Throughout my studies, I have worked hard to support myself independently through internships while also taking on loans to cover my education and living expenses.I have always tried to take as much responsibility as possible for financing my education.

Today, I am only one semester away from graduating in May. However, I currently have an outstanding tuition balance of approximately $12,000, which is preventing my graduation clearance.

Over the past several weeks, I have been actively working with different offices at the university and with my lender to explore every possible solution. Unfortunately, my lender is unable to provide additional funding because I have already reached the maximum borrowing limit they allow based on my existing loan balance. I also reached out to several university offices, but the available emergency funds are limited and not designed to cover billed tuition expenses of this size.

I am continuing to work through an internship while completing my studies and doing everything I can to contribute toward this balance myself. However, as someone without family financial support in the United States, covering the remaining amount on my own has become extremely challenging.

Completing this degree represents years of dedication, hard work, and sacrifice. Being so close to graduation makes this moment both hopeful and incredibly stressful.

I created this fundraiser to ask for support in closing this final tuition gap so that I can complete my degree and move forward into the workforce. Any contribution, no matter the size, would make a meaningful difference and help me reach this important milestone.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you may be able to offer.

With gratitude,

Sandra