Single Mom trying to finish College

Hello, I am a student finishing up my last year at The University of Texas at Dallas. I am starting a GoFundMe because I have exhausted my limits on all options with Financial Aid, student loans, and private loans and am looking at a dismal reality if I cannot fund the remaining of my last year. Just typing the last sentence is surreal to me because my journey has been anything but easy and yet I am so close to graduating with a degree in Biology.

I grew up in Trophy Club Tx, a small town where at 16 years old my life took a turn… I became a teen mother.

Pursuing higher education in the Sciences has been a challenge as a single parent mother.
In my experiences of juggling all 3 domains of school, work, and family (with absolutely no financial or family support), trying to find work as a Dental Assistant or part-time consulting work, continues to be a challenge as I have been turned away from opportunities due to employers not being open to hiring a student or flexible scheduling. In the university environment, barred from receiving financial aid, I am branded as a non-traditional student and have the challenges of attending class with traditional students that are typically over a decade younger, live at home with their parents, and have the benefit and ability to only focus on school.

If there is one lesson I learned throughout my journey leading to and during school is that obstacles do not block the path, they are the path.
You see I am a single parent of two children and I have learned to transform the obstacles that accompany this identity of a single parent into motivation to dream big. It wasn't always easy for me to publicly share this information because it made others and myself vulnerable to a lot of negative stigmas… according to single mother statistics.

I could not have made it this far without the support of my brother, friends, UTD professors, peers, mentors, and especially my two children.

The finish line is within sight and I am asking my community to please consider donating to my fundraiser. I have set the goal at less than what I actually need but I want to be realistic as to how much I can actually raise. I have tried to avoid this for a long time because I was afraid of public opinion and that of fellow classmates, but I know now that I have reached a point that needs me to extend a hand and ask for help because I ran out of options.

Every year and semester in college brings doubt whether I will be able to move on to the next due to,  financial strain and hardships. However perseverance and a perfect storm of opportunities,  hard work and support have moved me along. I worked hard to earn some scholarships and worked many jobs to pay tuition, support myself and, my two dependents thus far.

To conclude,  I would like to share a quote:

“She stood in the storm and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails.” - Elizabeth Edwards.
This quote reminds me that I too can accomplish my own dreams despite the challenges that surround me.

Please consider helping my fundraiser and help me save my dream of getting my degree in Biology so it brings me one step further in serving patients and positioning my children for a better future which is all I have ever dreamt of. 

Any amount would be appreciated or even if it's a simple share on your Facebook or LinkedIn page because I definitely need help spreading the word. Thank you immensely from the bottom of my heart.