Help Jazmin Stay in College

As a native Kissimmee, Florida, getting into a high ranking institution of higher education was the beginning of a dream to elicit change in others’ lives. To obtain and reach that goal, I attended the Osceola County School for the Arts (from grades 6-12th) as a cellist and was involved as a class officer, Orchestra President, in National Honors Society, National Arts Honors Society, other groups, and dedicated hundreds of hours to community service in my community while working a part-time job. Education was not just a step in life to me. It was a passion that was liberating my mind and allowing me to perceive the world with clear eyes and a loving heart. Through hard work and dedication, I completed High School with a 4.5 GPA in 2011 and made it into the University of California, Berkeley (the highest ranking public university in America). 

Immediately after my acceptance, my family and I were hit with the reality that out of state attendance to UC Berkeley rounds up to $55,000 and we were struggling with a large deficit. My parents do not have enough funds to assist in payments and I have had to solely rely on myself, $40,000 in loans accumulated over two years, grants, scholarships, and the work-study program. In order to maintain myself through my first two years from 2011 to 2013 at UC Berkeley, I struggled with major culture shock, homesickness, a full-time course load, full-time work hours as an assistant at the UC Berkeley Law School, and as a Resident assistant with the dorms. I have also worked two other jobs on campus as an Orientation Counselor and as an assistant in one of our local museums. I spend 20-40 hours a week planning and implementing events for residents on campus and creating opportunities for them that, I myself, cannot partake in with the combination of homework, studying, and working I must complete to stay in the intuition. Due to all these factors and the limitations in a day, I was not able to make enough to pay for registration in spring 2013 leaving me with a $5185 deficit. Which also puts me at risk to have to drop out for the upcoming year, causing me to lose my job and educational dreams.

This has been a challenging two years from me, struggling independently thousands of miles away from my Floridian family who are currently in a legal battle to keep our home for our family of 6. Asking for help is difficult as an individual who strives to take care of everything I possibly can on my own. However, a contribution would allow me to remain and school and keep working towards a future career and stability. I am currently finishing my Anthropology degree with the hopes of becoming a doctor or lawyer (I am still preparing for both and contemplating between a passion for both fields) in order to fight against the systematic barriers in this country that keep some Americans from receiving justice and a healthy lively hood. This is a goal that I am very passionate about and considering to help me reach my current goal of $5185 dollars can help me continue to work towards that goal. This amount is solely based on registration fees. I will post any receipts to confirm how money has been utilized. . Thank you for your time and consideration.