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My name is Tania Contreras. Currently, I am in my advanced year (second and last year) in the Master's of Social Welfare program at UCLA. So far, the program has been amazing -- I've met wonderful faculty and classmates. If you have had the chance to talk to me about my future aspirations, you’d know that this is exactly what I have been wanting since I was a junior in high school. I have seen exponential growth in me, both as a social worker/therapist and as a person.
Like many of my counterparts, I've managed to maintain a reputable GPA while also being involved in student groups/activities such as the Diversity Caucus as co-chair, the Macro Caucus as vice president, the Graduate-Undergraduate Mentorship (GUM) program as a mentor, and the University of California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (UC-LEND) as a long-term trainee. Like some of my fellow classmates, I live on my own and have to work 25 hour per week, including weekends, to make ends meet. In fact, I have worked up to 2 part-time jobs at a time to cover school and personal expenses because, unlike many of my counterparts, I do not qualify for government assistance - not even loans.
I am an undocumented student, a Dreamer, and a fortunate recipient of DACA. I run from one job to another in hopes of saving enough money to continue funding my education. With only TWO quarters looming ahead of me until graduation, paying for tuition is now seemingly impossible. The deadline for my next payment is only a few days away, but I refuse to give up without a fight. As a Dreamer, federal loans or financial assistance are not an option making it harder to finance my education. I have tried everything in my power to come up with the funds for my next payment from applying for private loans and being denied, to applying to countless scholarships within the last year, to holding two part-time jobs while attending school full-time. I am respectfully asking for any contributions to reach my goal of $3,000, which is just enough to cover the payment due December 20, 2016 so that I may continue with my graduate education into next quarter. Today, with the help of my department’s graduate advisor, the university provided me with an emergency loan to cover this month’s payment. This loan must to be paid off in six weeks, at which time the next tuition payment is due.
I have faced all the challenges immigrants face on a daily basis, but creating this campaign has been by far the most difficult of all. It has not been easy, but I am proud to say that I am making the most of pursuing a professional degree. I would like to thank everyone in advance who decides to make a contribution or share this GoFundMe campaign.

Like many of my counterparts, I've managed to maintain a reputable GPA while also being involved in student groups/activities such as the Diversity Caucus as co-chair, the Macro Caucus as vice president, the Graduate-Undergraduate Mentorship (GUM) program as a mentor, and the University of California Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Other Related Disabilities (UC-LEND) as a long-term trainee. Like some of my fellow classmates, I live on my own and have to work 25 hour per week, including weekends, to make ends meet. In fact, I have worked up to 2 part-time jobs at a time to cover school and personal expenses because, unlike many of my counterparts, I do not qualify for government assistance - not even loans.
I am an undocumented student, a Dreamer, and a fortunate recipient of DACA. I run from one job to another in hopes of saving enough money to continue funding my education. With only TWO quarters looming ahead of me until graduation, paying for tuition is now seemingly impossible. The deadline for my next payment is only a few days away, but I refuse to give up without a fight. As a Dreamer, federal loans or financial assistance are not an option making it harder to finance my education. I have tried everything in my power to come up with the funds for my next payment from applying for private loans and being denied, to applying to countless scholarships within the last year, to holding two part-time jobs while attending school full-time. I am respectfully asking for any contributions to reach my goal of $3,000, which is just enough to cover the payment due December 20, 2016 so that I may continue with my graduate education into next quarter. Today, with the help of my department’s graduate advisor, the university provided me with an emergency loan to cover this month’s payment. This loan must to be paid off in six weeks, at which time the next tuition payment is due.
I have faced all the challenges immigrants face on a daily basis, but creating this campaign has been by far the most difficult of all. It has not been easy, but I am proud to say that I am making the most of pursuing a professional degree. I would like to thank everyone in advance who decides to make a contribution or share this GoFundMe campaign.