Help Cucha fund her PHD!

Ana Caro is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Dear family, friends and kind strangers,

My name is Ana (but people call me Cucha), I come from Venezuela and here is my story:

Ever since I was 6 or 7 I have fantasized about doing a PHD. I'm not sure where I got the idea... probably from my cool & nerdy uncle Quico (who is standing beside me in the cover picture!). He was at university at the time and I wanted to be just like him when I grew up!

(Young me daydreaming about the future)

Now... many years later when I finished highschool, I decided to study psychology. From day 1 I found psychology fascinating! I wanted to read all the books in the world, test all of the theories... I really couldn't get enough of it! Then in 2012 I graduated top of my class. The day of my graduation (which is when the picture was taken) was one of the best days of my life! I was so excited about the future and all the amazing things that I would be able to do!

(Graduation day. A.K.A: Best day EVER!)

And then came the scary question that we all ask ourselves when we graduate: now what?...
I knew that I wanted to continue my studies, but I didn't even know where to start! So I decided to start working, in order to clear my head. I worked for 2 years in Venezuela and then decided it was time to start applying for higher education in Canada, where my family moved due to the difficult situation in our country.

(The whole family in Canada!!)

This was no easy process! My mom bought me a huge book with a list of all the Universities in Canada that offered PHDs in psychology, then I made a selection and went on road trips with my mom and my uncle Quico (from the picture!) we passed through Wolfville, Chicoutimi, Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! and all sorts of crazy places!

(Me & my cousin Kimmi visiting Chicoutimi!)

(I didn't lie about "Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!")

Finally I began applying, but to my utter disappointment, getting into a PHD wasn't as easy as I thought. In fact after applying twice I concluded that it was impossible. I felt a little lost and confused. What now?!? I asked myself... as I began to get used to idea of giving up my lifelong dream. Of course this didn't paralize me! I spent this time learning french and working as a psychotherapist, which helped me learn the practical aspects of working with patients.

However, last October I decided to give it a third try, because as they say in my country "La tercera es la vencida!" (third time's a charm!)... Guess what: They called me this week to announce me that I GOT IN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(YESSSSSSS!!!!!!!)

The university is called: Université de Sherbrooke and the program is in french, it's a 4 year program (the first two years we have plenty of classes and the second two we will be working on our thesis and do an internship at the same time) We will only be 10 students in my class! I will be starting in September of this year :)

Here is a link of my faculty in case you are curious ;)

http://www.usherbrooke.ca/psychologie/futurs-etudiants/troisieme-cycle/doctorat-en-psychologie-intervention-en-enfance-et-en-adolescence/

Now, back to the story... as much as this news made me VERY happy, it also made me kind of anxious... you see studying a PHD requires 100% of a person's energy and concentration, so I will not be able to work the thirty-something hours a week that I'm currently working now (but only 4 or 5 hours a week tops)

So this is where you come in!
ANY contribution that you make will help my dreams come true!

Now, I hate it when people ask me for money too... so I understand that you may feel hesitant... therefore I decided to explain to you how exactly your contribution would be invested in. So, my father will help me with the costs of the university and books. And then this are my living expenses:

- Rent & internet costs: 3480$
- Transportation costs: 1096$
- Phone: 320$
- Food: 3200$

So the total of this is: 8,016$

I have set aside 4.000$ which will cover half and I'm asking you to kindly help me with the other half!

All of this combined will help me be able to do my first year of PHD!

What will you be helping me with exactly? You will make it possible for me to NOT have to work fulltime and study at the same time (which means that I will have more time to study, I will get AMAZING grades and I will be able to obtain the excelence scholarship that my university offers on my second year of the PHD) :)

Thank you SOOOOOO much for your kindness and generosity!!!