Thanks to everyone who supported, donated, and shared my story. Your kindness truly means more than words can express. While I was not able to raise enough funds to attend my original dream school out of state, your generosity has helped me tremendously by covering essential college expenses like books and supplies. Because of financial limitations, I will now be attending an in-state school for Fall 2026, and I am deeply grateful for every person who stood by me throughout this journey.

My name is Elijah, and I’m 18 years old. I plan to begin college in Fall 2026 to pursue a degree in computer science. This year, I was honored to be accepted into several universities, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Clemson University, Penn State, and Virginia Tech. These acceptances represented years of hard work, perseverance, and determination.

My path to this point has not been easy.

When I was 15, my biological father filed for joint custody through the court system. Despite requesting joint custody, he never made any meaningful effort to be present in my life or share responsibility for raising me. The legal battles and emotional strain took a serious toll on my mental health, leading to one of the most difficult periods of my life. During that time, I was placed under care at a children’s mental health facility. Even while facing those challenges, I continued pushing forward academically, maintaining strong grades, earning honor roll recognition, and refusing to give up on my future.

My mother has raised three children on her own for the past 18 years and has been our only consistent source of support. She carried the full burden of raising us while receiving only minimal child support. Two years ago, our family faced another devastating challenge when my brother was diagnosed with stage four cancer. While caring for him through treatment, my mother lost her job and had to rely on her savings to keep our family afloat. Since then, she has been actively seeking employment, but the financial hardship has been overwhelming.

Unfortunately, financial aid decisions for my college education were based on outdated tax returns from when my mother was still employed, rather than our current financial reality. This left us in a position where many of my dream schools remained financially out of reach, despite my academic achievements and determination. My mother submitted multiple appeals, but there was no guarantee of enough aid to make those schools affordable.

Although I could not attend my desired out-of-state university, I remain committed to my goals. I will be attending an in-state college, continuing my education in computer science, and working toward building a successful future in technology. My dream is to create a better life for my family and eventually give back to others facing hardships similar to mine.

This journey has taught me resilience, determination, and gratitude. Your support has made a real difference in helping me take this next step, even if the path looks different than I originally hoped.

Thank you again to every single person who donated, shared, or offered encouragement. Your support helped lighten this burden, and I will carry that gratitude with me as I move forward into this next chapter.