Greetings of Peace be with you!  I am Tariq Najee-ullah,  a devoted husband, loving father to two lively daughters, a dedicated public servant, and an evolving student. I’m  committed to the upliftment of humanity using religion as a means to foster peacebuilding and solve real world problems plaguing our current society.  I am a candidate for a Master's Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Islam and Muslim-Christian Relations in Georgetown's School of Continuing Studies.  Unfortunately, a series of unforeseen circumstances has jeopardized my ability to finish my studies.  I'm humbly asking for your financial support to help me accomplish my goal.


I have been a student at Georgetown part time since Fall 2012, while working full time at a federal agency. Pursuing this dream has been very rewarding and beneficial for building interfaith relations; however, it has put a strain on our finances.  Even so, it has been a worthy sacrifice, and I have persevered using relentless determination, diligent focus, and prayer to pay my way through four semesters of school.


During this time in school, I have endured the peaks and valleys of life, including: the birth of our second daughter, the purchase of our first family home, surviving the government shutdown, and overcoming a chronic health injury. The entire time, I’ve maintained a 3.67 GPA, completing 18 credits successfully.  


Determined to continue to live within my means and remain debt-free; I have applied for countless scholarships, but to no avail. I have used both overtime pay and temporary jobs to cover $14,000 of tuition expenses and books.  Regrettably, with the cost of tuition increasing each year, I am no longer able to cover these expenses. I have exhausted personal funds in the middle of Spring semester 2015.  Having paid out of pocket for one-third of my credits for this semester, I still owe an additional $4,000.  I must pay these expenses before I can register for any classes.


I have sought help through Georgetown’s financial aid office, but have only been directed to student loans.  After working hard to pay off my undergraduate loans  accrued from two years of tuition to Georgia Tech as part of a dual degree program after completing my Bachelor’s program through a federal scholarship at Morehouse College, I am determined to find another way.


As I previously stated, I am over halfway through my program. I have completed 18 credits of Georgetown University's 30-credit Master of Arts in Liberal Studies program with a concentration in Islam in Muslim-Christian Relations based out of the Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal Center for Muslim Christian Understanding.  My goal is to finish by Spring of 2017, and I am seeking your help to make it happen. I've been making regular payments toward the current  school bill, and I plan to continue to be the primary investor in my education going forward. At the same time, I realize that I need financial support from my friends and family to make this a reality! If 475 people each donate $40 to this cause, I will be able to return to school in Spring 2016 and be well on my way to finishing school by Spring of 2017.


Why religious studies?  I believe the core values in religion have inspired some of the greatest human achievements in the face of tremendous adversity.  Inspired by great minds like Howard Thurman who preached to my grandparents, “...[A] strange necessity has been laid upon me to devote my life to the central concern that transcends the walls that divide and would achieve in literal fact what is experienced as literal truth: human life is one and all men are members of one another. And this insight is spiritual and it is the hard core of religious experience.”

― Howard Thurman, The Luminous Darkness


I am devoted of a similar spirit to see myself as a religious scientist who examines core religious principles of the Abrahamic Faiths and uses them to address real-life challenges in faith, family, community and society.  I am committed to providing a platform that will bring people together of various faiths to solve socio-economic challenges and injustices.Upon finishing school it is my goal to continue to bring people together from all walks of life, different faith communities, and various political backgrounds; united in service to the betterment of self, family, community, and humanity.  


Thank you sincerely in advance for investing in this Morehouse Hoya’s future!

I promise -- I will make you proud.


Sincerely,


Tariq Najee-ullah