Freshman College Tuition of $26,000 with a Love for Animals

Hi! My name is Danielle, and I am an 18 year old hispanic student from NJ. I look forward to attending Rollins College in Florida this fall. I plan to major in biology and afterwards attend veterinary school to become a Wildlife Rehabilitation Veterinarian. I have always loved animals, from my guinea pig as a kid to the horses I have learned to ride. My love for animals has taken me down different roads. I have volunteered as a Therapeutic Riding Assistant working with children and adults with special needs, such as Lyme Disease and ADHD. I have also volunteered at one of my town's veterinarian clinics and worked my way up to Vet Assistant this past year. Through my love of animals, I have adopted two rescues, in addition to the two cats we already owned. I tried to do my share of "taking care" by obtaining my Red Cross certification in a Cat and Dog First Aid class my freshman year. Some of my other passions include ballroom dancing, exercising (swimming) and music (playing the flute and conducting the pit orchestra at my high school). Some of the clubs I am looking to join at Rollins are the Equestrian Team, Latin Ballroom Dance Team, and one of their water sports, possibly Women's Crew.
Just to give you a little bit more insight as to who I am...I was the recipient of the HOBY Award and represented my high school during my sophomore year. I volunteered in the Child Care Department at one of the nearby hospitals my freshman year, and I played the flute every other Sunday at an Adult Day Care Center one town over during junior year. Currently, I tutor a freshman at the high school in biology. My grandfather always said education was crucial and I have studied hard, but I have always tried to help or bring a smile to someone's face whenever possible. Juggling and trying to maintain good grades was not easy for me, and I had to learn when to slow down. Through my academic achievements, I humbly share with you that I will be graduating this June with 5 "chords" (Italian, National, Thespian, NSHSS, and Music Honor Societies). This kind of dedication and community service is what I plan to continue at the college level.
I am very excited, and nervous, to be starting this new chapter of my life, but I am now well aware of the college expenses that are in my very near future. I chose Rollins College because of the smaller classes that they offer and the unbelievable academic support professors provide their students and yes, not to mention the fact that I am truly not fond of cold winters. I came to realize that this is the type of academic environment I can succeed in to achieve my goals. Although I did receive a merit based scholarship and grant, my out of pocket financial responsibility is still $26,000. Over the weekend, my mom and I were researching ways on how to raise money for my tuition instead of relying on the usual student loans (which I fear for several reasons). Throughout my life, my mom has always guided me in the right direction and she asked that I have faith. I in turn ask those reading my bio who share in my love and respect for all animals and who can help me be of great use to them someday, to help me reach my goal of $26,000. I know this is a lot of money and the amount you can donate does not matter. I know what a great feeling it is to help in ways I have described above, and I have faith that you will feel great too; whether it is helping me, another student, or another cause. Thank you for taking the time to learn about me!