Support Shealyn's Educational Study Abroad

Hello! My name is Shealyn Paulis, and I am a Journalism major at Michigan State University with a concentration in International Reporting and a minor in Spanish language. In less than two weeks I will be going with my college on an education abroad trip to Peru, where we will be focusing on the environmental and science aspects of communication, specifically regarding biodiversity in the Amazon rainforest, environmental impacts on local populations, and extractive industries in the region (mining, deforestation, etc) and making multiple short documentaries on these subjects. Additionally, this counts towards my degree and will help me graduate. I am beyond excited for this level of reporting, as I have never had the opportunity to leave the United States before and would likely not have this chance without my school. This trip is perfect for my degree and career, and I could not pass on this experience of a lifetime, but the financial hurdles are tremendous. I work multiple jobs in reporting and the restaurant industry year round, and still I am unable to completely support myself/the costs of this trip and the summer tuition that comes along with it. I work with multiple publications, including Great Lakes Echo, The American Communities Project, and the Detroit Free Press, but as many know, reporting isn't a rich career, and neither is serving tables. I am asking for help because the trip itself (with accommodation, excursions, insurance, and transportation) costs $3,650, and the summer tuition to receive credits toward my degree for this work is an additional $3,700. Any amount is extremely helpful, and this young journalist is thankful you've even read this far along! Below, i've added links to some of my previous work if you're interesting is seeing what type of writer you would be supporting. Thank you!!

https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/25/journalists-hike-urban-wilderness-of-wissahickon-valley-park/

https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/04/24/rethinking-environmental-journalism-education/

https://www.freep.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/04/05/michigan-schoolcraft-county-politics/73194736007/

https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/15/great-lakes-echo-reporters-honored-with-michigan-press-association-awards/

https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/03/07/upcoming-book-exposes-local-impact-on-introduction-and-loss-of-salmon-in-great-lakes/

https://greatlakesecho.org/2024/01/04/twenty-companies-pledge-to-use-all-parts-of-great-lakes-fish-by-2025/

https://greatlakesecho.org/2023/10/27/author-and-naturalist-guides-readers-to-healing-connection-with-nature/

https://greatlakesecho.org/2023/10/05/michigan-officials-urge-public-to-squish-invasive-bug/

https://www.americancommunities.org/how-michigans-graying-america-community-narrows-gaps-in-rural-healthcare/