This Isn't Just College: It's My Way Out, My Way Forward

You may not know me, but I know of you, and I know you have a heart. I know that you care. I know that you're loving. I know that you're courageous. I know you have families and a life you want to pursue, and a dream you might have. Even if we've never met, I know this: you believe in something, something bigger than yourself. Maybe you believe in the power of education. Maybe you believe in helping young people rise above the barriers they were never meant to carry. Or maybe you just believe in doing what you can when someone reaches out with hope in their hands.

I'm reaching out. I'm asking for help.

Hi, my name is Christopher Za'Mir, and I'm an 18-year-old aspiring second-year college student from the suburbs of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to the great city of Atlanta, Georgia. I've been blessed with a powerful dream: to become the first lawyer and politician in my family EVER. But that dream, like so many for students who come from hardworking, under-resourced families, is at risk of slipping away without your help.

I attend Howard University in Washington, D.C., a place where my mind, heart, and soul have felt awakened in ways I never thought possible. I chose Howard not just for the education, but because it's a home where Black excellence, leadership, and purpose are cultivated. I'm majoring in Political Science and have a minor in Economics with a goal of one day fighting for justice, not just in courtrooms, but in communities like mine, where justice too often feels far away.

But like so many first-generation out-of-state college students, my journey hasn't been easy. Despite my family's love, sacrifices, and hard work, we're facing a serious financial hardship. I've come so far, but right now, I'm at risk of having to step away from Howard due to costs we simply cannot cover on our own.

This is a GoFundMe is more than a fundraiser; it's a lifeline.

Your support, no matter how small, helps cover the remaining tuition, housing, books, and day-to-day costs of living and learning in a city far from home that my scholarships didn't cover. It helps relieve the heavy weight of anxiety and uncertainty that my family and I carry every day as we try to hold on to this dream.

I'm not asking for a handout. I'm asking for belief.

Belief in what's possible when someone refuses to give up.

Belief in the power of education to break generational cycles.

Belief that someone like me, who's moved all over the place with a heart full of hope, can rise to become a force for change.

Please consider donating, sharing, or even just sending encouragement. Every bit makes a difference, from ten cents to a dollar. Thank you for reading, for believing, and for giving me your time and the chance to keep walking toward my future.

With all my heart,

Christopher Za'Mir

Future Lawyer. Policy Advocate. Proud Child. Howard Bison.