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Hi, everyone!
My name is Aylin. My goal here is to fundraise money so that I can attend college. I have just graduated high school and claimed my acceptance at Cal State Northridge to study Music Engineering! The only problem is that my parents can not afford to send me to college. I am undocumented and so I can not take out loans for school either. I have applied for many scholarships, but have not heard back yet. The Dream Act has granted me $5,000 and I have already raised $2,000, which is a great start! However, the total cost of college will be $23,000 each year. So, I still need to raise $16,000 to attend college this year.
I came to the United States when I was two years old. This is my home and I want to get a college education. I have proven to be hard working and dedicated my entire life. I pushed myself throughout high school to have good grades. I even graduated as president of National Honors Society at my school. I also spent time pursuing my interests through music related internships and independent projects. My sophomore year of high school I took on a project to write, record, and perform my own music album. That was when I really found what I want to do with my life! I want nothing more than to continue to pursue my passion while attending an energetic, diverse college campus where I will meet many inspiring students and professors. I can’t do it without your help this first year!
If you can donate any amount, large or small, to my college fund, it will not go to waste! I am determined to succeed! My dream is to be the first person in my family to attend and graduate from a four year university. I will be forever grateful that you helped me reach my dream. I will spend my life giving back to my community.
Sincerely,
Aylin
If you want to know a little bit more about my story, here is my personal statement:
The van was speeding towards the border. I was two years old. My sister kept telling me that Mom was okay. Yet, I knew the man driving wasn’t my dad, and the lady in the passenger seat wasn’t my mom. My mom was hidden in the front hood of the van. I was scared and couldn’t understand why my mom made us leave Mexico, but now it all makes sense. I clearly see both of my parents’ sacrifice now more than ever.
Arriving in LA wasn’t the end of our struggle, it was just the beginning. To start with, my sister and I were learning English for the first time. This made it difficult to make friends and understand my teachers. For example, once I thought I was playing ball with my classmates, but really they were running away from me. Also, sometimes teachers would explain assignments, and the only way I knew the explanation was finished was that everyone else started to work. Unfortunately, this wasn’t something my parents could help me with because they didn’t speak English either. Soon, my sister and I became known as the undocumented freaks in school.
Being undocumented brought many challenges. Work options for my family were limited. Also, sometimes I had to miss out on things, like a fully fund-raised educational trip to Italy because I didn’t have a passport. We also lived every day in fear of getting deported, which impacted me deeply. On one hand it stifled my natural desire to find work because I was afraid of getting in trouble. On the other hand, it made me appreciate every day here because I know it could be taken away. The challenge that has affected me most is how every apartment we live in can never be our official home. We’ve had to move five times. It’s always temporary, just a place we pay rent and take shelter. We can’t make changes to make it our own. It’s these little things that motivate me the most to get “the dream house”. This may be cliche, but to me it’s much more. It’s the reminder that we won’t be excluded from what others call their home. It’s a place we can be proud of all the sacrifices my parents made sixteen years ago.
Fear has been my family’s shadow, but I am going to change that. I’m the last child to make it right. All the struggles I’ve experienced and witnessed haven’t stopped me from succeeding, but made me stronger. They made me grow up fast and take on big responsibilities at home.They also motivated me to do well in school and make good choices. I became a leader in my family by translating English and guiding my parents through the steps toward getting citizenship one day.
Today, I want college for myself and no one has to make me realize what is possible. I am grateful that my school, New Village, supported my passion for music through internships and projects. Through interning at Origami Vinyl for three years, I have learned the business side of music and have been inspired by the powerful women who manage Origami Vinyl. Recently I have really become a part of the team and was given the opportunity to arrange an in-store concert all on my own. Music has been my motivation to do well in school and attend college. As a result I will graduate as NHS president and a real contributor to my school. I love to write lyrics, record albums, review performances, interview musicians, organize concerts, and discuss music. I want to pursue this interest in college and find a career in the music industry that makes every day feel like I’m doing what I’m meant to do. I want a career that will provide for my family and make us finally feel like a real part of our community.
My name is Aylin. My goal here is to fundraise money so that I can attend college. I have just graduated high school and claimed my acceptance at Cal State Northridge to study Music Engineering! The only problem is that my parents can not afford to send me to college. I am undocumented and so I can not take out loans for school either. I have applied for many scholarships, but have not heard back yet. The Dream Act has granted me $5,000 and I have already raised $2,000, which is a great start! However, the total cost of college will be $23,000 each year. So, I still need to raise $16,000 to attend college this year.
I came to the United States when I was two years old. This is my home and I want to get a college education. I have proven to be hard working and dedicated my entire life. I pushed myself throughout high school to have good grades. I even graduated as president of National Honors Society at my school. I also spent time pursuing my interests through music related internships and independent projects. My sophomore year of high school I took on a project to write, record, and perform my own music album. That was when I really found what I want to do with my life! I want nothing more than to continue to pursue my passion while attending an energetic, diverse college campus where I will meet many inspiring students and professors. I can’t do it without your help this first year!
If you can donate any amount, large or small, to my college fund, it will not go to waste! I am determined to succeed! My dream is to be the first person in my family to attend and graduate from a four year university. I will be forever grateful that you helped me reach my dream. I will spend my life giving back to my community.
Sincerely,
Aylin
If you want to know a little bit more about my story, here is my personal statement:
The van was speeding towards the border. I was two years old. My sister kept telling me that Mom was okay. Yet, I knew the man driving wasn’t my dad, and the lady in the passenger seat wasn’t my mom. My mom was hidden in the front hood of the van. I was scared and couldn’t understand why my mom made us leave Mexico, but now it all makes sense. I clearly see both of my parents’ sacrifice now more than ever.
Arriving in LA wasn’t the end of our struggle, it was just the beginning. To start with, my sister and I were learning English for the first time. This made it difficult to make friends and understand my teachers. For example, once I thought I was playing ball with my classmates, but really they were running away from me. Also, sometimes teachers would explain assignments, and the only way I knew the explanation was finished was that everyone else started to work. Unfortunately, this wasn’t something my parents could help me with because they didn’t speak English either. Soon, my sister and I became known as the undocumented freaks in school.
Being undocumented brought many challenges. Work options for my family were limited. Also, sometimes I had to miss out on things, like a fully fund-raised educational trip to Italy because I didn’t have a passport. We also lived every day in fear of getting deported, which impacted me deeply. On one hand it stifled my natural desire to find work because I was afraid of getting in trouble. On the other hand, it made me appreciate every day here because I know it could be taken away. The challenge that has affected me most is how every apartment we live in can never be our official home. We’ve had to move five times. It’s always temporary, just a place we pay rent and take shelter. We can’t make changes to make it our own. It’s these little things that motivate me the most to get “the dream house”. This may be cliche, but to me it’s much more. It’s the reminder that we won’t be excluded from what others call their home. It’s a place we can be proud of all the sacrifices my parents made sixteen years ago.
Fear has been my family’s shadow, but I am going to change that. I’m the last child to make it right. All the struggles I’ve experienced and witnessed haven’t stopped me from succeeding, but made me stronger. They made me grow up fast and take on big responsibilities at home.They also motivated me to do well in school and make good choices. I became a leader in my family by translating English and guiding my parents through the steps toward getting citizenship one day.
Today, I want college for myself and no one has to make me realize what is possible. I am grateful that my school, New Village, supported my passion for music through internships and projects. Through interning at Origami Vinyl for three years, I have learned the business side of music and have been inspired by the powerful women who manage Origami Vinyl. Recently I have really become a part of the team and was given the opportunity to arrange an in-store concert all on my own. Music has been my motivation to do well in school and attend college. As a result I will graduate as NHS president and a real contributor to my school. I love to write lyrics, record albums, review performances, interview musicians, organize concerts, and discuss music. I want to pursue this interest in college and find a career in the music industry that makes every day feel like I’m doing what I’m meant to do. I want a career that will provide for my family and make us finally feel like a real part of our community.
Organizer and beneficiary
Natalie Poston
Beneficiary