Help me go to school!

Dearest friends and friends I haven't met yet (that's a phrase I use in lieu of 'strangers'), I am happy to announce that I made the decision to return to classes full time starting this Fall Semester! I am officially enrolled as a student at Chattahoochee Technical College and am excited to take a full load this semester!

Who am I?

My name is Nick Duncan and I've lived in Canton, GA for nearly all my life. I've always been a big learner, with my head always wrapped in a book. Grew up, just like most 90s kids, escaping to the magical world of Hogwarts when reality was being sour. I jammed to 'No Rain', played Super Nintendo, and, like anyone in Georgia can tell you, got a reminder every 2-3 years that 'snow' wasn't just some urban legend. Since I graduated high school in 2010, I found myself on my feet with my own roof over my head fairly quickly. Working at a Zaxby's (home to the best fried chicken in the Southeast!), I walked to and from my first apartment to work 6 days a week. I carried my groceries on my back on the way home, and had friends over to burn through my DVD collection on my box TV while sitting on the carpet. As time flew by I snagged myself a construction job. Free, hot food 6 days a week is something I will miss until the day I die but the increase in salary was nothing to sneeze at. I always knew I wanted to go to school but it was never feasible. I didn't know what I wanted to do nor did I have the means to do it. Since my better paying construction job, I've taken a sparse amount of online college courses while working 70-90 hours a week. But without anything in particular that I wanted to do and a giant work schedule, taking partime over the course of 1.5 years has resulted in just 9 credit hours. With a GPA of 85.33, I found that I was definitely capable of learning but being on your own at a young age doesn't bode well for school financially or in terms of practiality. However, I've felt re-motivated throughout 2014. My New Year's Resolution was to get serious about school. After some extensive research, I realized that I want to be a teacher, so that I can gve the same educational opportunities that I so desperately yearn for. I have found a new 40hr/week job and filled am currently registered for the following 4 classes: World Literature - ENGL 2110, U.S. History I - HIST 2111, College Algebra - MATH 1111, and last but not least American Government - POLS 1101! I plan on finishing up some more core classes so that I can gain enough to transfer to an university like Kennesaw State University, for example!   

What am I on Go Get Funding for?  

As you probably guessed, my wallet doesn't stretch as far as my enthuisaism! Before textbooks, I'm already at a whomping $1,341 in tuition charges, and that doesn't even include textbooks! I'm taking the drastically conservative estimate in $99 for textbooks. Realistically, that will probably wind up as enough for one class, two if I'm lucky. But regardless, that leaves me with $1,440 to pay for! I've tried applying for scholarships, and I've tried applying for student aid. I've found no success in either of these routes. I don't know if I've hit a bout of bad luck in applying for scholarships, but the fish are simply not biting. Loans have been just as unfruitful. Chattahoochee Tech does not participate in the Federal Student Stafford Loan Program, which means the usually easily approved government student loans most people would take are not available to me. This leaves private student loans as my only option. I've applied to various agencies, such as Sallie Mae and Wells Fargo. But with a meager credit history, I wasn't exactly on the top of their priorities. However, I have done what I can to stash away cash here and there for school. This isn't easy at all living paycheck to paycheck, with work hours determined by the weather. A bad rainstorm could wipe out half my check for the week, easily (Trust me it's happened before). Despite that, however, I've managed to tuck away $380 thus far for school, putting my goal down to $1,060! I know my budget and I know I won't have the opportunity to put more aside for school until the end of August. So, please, go get me $1,060 funding so I can go to school! It would mean the world to me. Every bit of help puts me closer, and it would mean so much to me!

What can you get for supporting me?

You people mean the world to me. You're helping me progress through my life, where otherwise I would be stuck dreaming of what could have been. In order to show my immense appreciation, I think I've thought up some interesting incentives for those willing to lend some help! First off, if you donate $8 or more, you will find yourself receiving in the mail a handmade thank you card. My handwriting isn't exactly inspiration for a Microsoft Office font, but I got a sense of humor (though some might tell you that that's the only thing I've said that has ever made them laugh) and I think I could entertain ya and create a worthy keepsake. Now, if you donate $30 or more, dinner is on me, by me! I'm no culinary expert or anything, but after working the kitchens of Grady Street Pizza Company (a locally owned, now extinct, pizzeria that you've never heard of), Zaxby's, Buffalo's Cafe, and Outback Steakhouse I can make you some grub that will fill you up for the night. Of course, this one is a bit trickier. If you live somewhere in the Metro Atlanta area (for reference, I live in the city of Marietta atm, zip code 30066) then problem solved! You're invited, or if you prefer, I deliver! Now, if you're a bit further away, then depending on the definition of 'further', I could definitely meet you somewhere, but my car is old and cranky and I'm not sure how comfortable I am driving it more than an hour away from my base of operations. Any further and I might just have to settle with getting you a $5 gift card to your favorite restaurant, or to cook ya something up if you ever do find yourself in my neck of the woods for whatever convention/important business meeting/cousin's bar mitzvah that has grabbed your attention. It's an offer that never expires! $50 or more? Now it gets even more exciting: One random book from my shelf, shipped directly to you. What book is this? I don't even know! I'm going to close my eyes and pull one of my shelves and give it to ya! Great way to discover something new, right?    *Please note I will not be able to start rewarding the incentives until October. If I could right away, then that would kinda defeat the need for tuition funds, wouldn't it? :P   Thank you so much for your help! You can chat me up on e-mail at [email protected], you can use that same e-mail to look up my Facebook, or give me a holler at 404-587-7015. You are making a phenomenal difference in my life!