My name is Stephanie, and I am just two classes away from earning my bachelor’s degree from University of Maryland, Baltimore County, where I study Psychology with a minor in Social Work. I need to raise $6,874 to pay off my school balance so I can register for my final classes and complete my degree.

Becoming a teacher has been my dream since I was 10 years old. I have always found joy in helping others learn, grow, and gain confidence in themselves. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the happiness on a child’s face when they finally understand something they once struggled with. I want to be the kind of teacher who creates a safe, loving, and supportive environment where every student feels valued and capable of achieving their goals.

My journey has not been easy. I spent my life in foster care, moving from house to house, often feeling behind in school, disconnected, and uncertain about where I belonged. I know firsthand how difficult it is to adapt, make friends, and keep up academically when life is unstable. But it was the caring and loving teachers who went out of their way to make sure I felt safe, welcomed, and seen in their classrooms. School became my safe place. The teachers and social workers in the schools I attended during my foster care years had a lasting impact on me, and they are a major reason I wanted to become a teacher even more. They showed me the power of compassion, support, and education in changing a child’s life.

Along the way, I faced more obstacles—teenage pregnancy, aging out of foster care, surviving domestic violence, and the challenges of being a single mother while trying to create a better life for my children. These experiences could have stopped me, but instead they strengthened my resolve. I made the choice to focus on my growth, my healing, and my career. I returned to school with one goal in mind: to become the teacher I always wanted to be.

Today, I am part of the Baltimore City Teacher Residency teaching program and have worked as a long-term substitute teacher for several years, teaching grades K–5. Every day in the classroom confirms that this is where I am meant to be. I am committed to helping students learn, feel confident, and know they can achieve anything if they work hard.

Earning this degree will not only be a personal accomplishment—it will be proof that I overcame every obstacle placed in my path. It will allow me to continue building a stable future for my family and to inspire my children never to give up on their dreams.

Your donation will go directly toward paying my outstanding balance so I can register for my final courses. It is an investment in my future, my family, and the countless students I will serve throughout my teaching career.

I am determined to reach this goal, no matter how long it takes. With your support, I can take this final step toward becoming the teacher I have always been called to be.

Thank you for believing in me and for helping me turn this lifelong dream into reality.