Support Shelby's Journey Back to School

I‼️‼️I'M GOING BACK TO SCHOOL‼️‼️

Hello, my name is Shelby Taylor. The majority of the people that this will reach already know the basis of my life story, but I’m hoping this may expand and reach others. If not for help, maybe some encouragement for others to keep going in life… This will not be brief, but it will be a good read. Even if you don’t donate, it’s nice to tell my story.

On 03/18/18, my siblings and I lost our only parent, our mom Nakeisha Taylor, to stage 4 breast cancer. The greatest woman in this world. I was 17 years old, finishing out my senior year of high school. This was the most devastating, life-changing experience, yet I’m grateful for the journey. While I was in grief, I had a great opportunity in front of me. I was going to Transylvania University at no cost with a scholarship and financial aid. School seemed like the only thing that I had to hold onto, until it wasn’t. Life quickly came with its challenges, and forced adulthood was honestly beating me down… like immediately. Upon starting my first semester, my livelihood was at stake, and I was separated from my family... I was fine academically; the coursework wasn’t hard, but life-wise? I felt like I was spiraling and had no control. Then I got legal guardianship over my brother because he asked me in desperation, and I’m his older sister. I didn’t think twice. This came with its challenges, being a full-time student and a 19-year-old guardian of a 14-year-old. I was going through it; he was going through it. Constant wind and rain; a storm that wouldn’t go away… Shortly after this, Covid hit. It was either go to school or provide for my family. Like most people during the pandemic, hard decisions had to be made. I had to work the hours that were available to me.

From the moment my mom passed until now, I have worked hard to have some sort of quality of life. Working my way to have some type of financial stability, to be able to pay my bills without panicking. To not have a college degree, I’ve fought hard to not live in poverty, and I’ve finally gotten my head above water.

When I got accepted into Transylvania University, many people were proud of me. Transy is a wonderful school, a school anyone would be proud to go to… I didn’t get to finish, and since then people have been asking me when I’m going back. I’ve watched everyone around me graduate, make career moves, go get their master’s... then there’s me. I’ve spent many years living in fear because of how hard I had to fight. Pondering on how my dreams got snatched away from me. Everything I worked for in my educational career since I was in elementary school (I decided I was going to Transylvania as a child and worked hard to make sure my grades were acceptable) had been pointless. Over the years, I’ve desired to go back. My heart would break at the thought that I couldn’t, and it began to weigh on me heavily. For anyone that knows me, I’ve always been an education junkie; I love school and I love to learn.

Back in March, someone very close to me challenged me to just apply. Somehow they saw the lack of purpose and excitement inside of me. So I applied to many schools and got in… I would like to announce that I have gotten accepted and will be attending NKU's accelerated online degree program for Interdisciplinary Studies full-time. YAY!!!

The process has been fast and honestly is forcing me into commitment, which I’m not mad about because I have allowed stress and the unknown to keep me fearful, and fear has kept me stagnant. So yeah. I was originally supposed to start in the fall, but I was notified that I do get some aid for the summer if I would like… Summer starts MAY 12. So here’s where I need help (BE PATIENT WITH ME PLEASE). I will be giving a lot of details because if you are going to help, I want you to know exactly where it’s going to and why.

So, further up in this story, I talked about how I’ve worked my way out of poverty. Meaning, as an adult student who is not necessarily drowning financially, but still very much in the water, just out enough to where I can breathe, I get financial aid, but not a lot. And next year I’m probably going to get even less because I made more in '24, and FAFSA '26/'27 will reflect that, so I’m not expecting much. I’ve already talked things over with the financial aid office; starting in the summer is the best idea when it comes to maximizing my financial aid. This also works out because I get to finish the rest of my core classes so in the fall I can immediately work on my focus areas (those who have been to college know you can’t take certain classes depending on the prerequisites) and minimize my time in school.

Okay. It will take me approximately 2 years (including summer) and almost $40,000 to finish my bachelor’s degree. NKU has accepted my credits from Transylvania University, which has greatly benefited me. Other than the financial aid I am getting, NKU gives a discounted rate every credit hour for the program I’m in, but because of that, they do not give any institutional aid/scholarships to online students. I’ve already signed up for classes for summer and fall, and based on those, I’ve calculated I will need around $15,000 to finish my degree including books and school supplies as well… after grants and some loans I’ve considered… it could be more because again, I’m going based off of my current grants, and that could very much change for next school year.

I do not want to take out large loans; I have enough debt, also school loans. If I have to, of course I will, but I figured this was a great opportunity to ask for help. I honestly don’t know if I’m expecting help; I feel very vulnerable doing this. I do know, forever people have asked me what I need, if I needed anything just to ask for help other than the people closest to me. I’ve gracefully struggled and did what I had to do for years, but this matters to me. This isn’t about my siblings; this is about Shelby’s future and success. This is about my dreams. I’ve been giving and giving all these years, none of that for my betterment but survival... I’ve spent years working with special needs adults, and I LOVE my job, I adore my clients, and I’m grateful to be able to do what I do... but I know God has more for me, and I’m ready to set myself up for that more. Please help me to start the journey I was destined to finish.

So, I need help with tuition. I have ZERO school supplies. I don’t have a laptop (I was going to get that over the summer if I started in fall)… Again, my classes start May 12th. For many people this is going to reach, I know you all personally. If you have any school supplies that you’d like to give away, just email me.

If you don’t want to give on here, I have a CashApp and it’s $ShelbsNicole

Thank you for reading my story!! May all of you be extremely blessed.

I don’t know if gofundme allows for updates, but I will show exactly what the money is spent on…if not, Facebook family I’ll keep you all in the loop.