Jasmine’s College Fund

Hi my name is Jasmine and I am 17 years of age. I am asking the world to please help my dream come true.

Choosing to go to college is a huge decision in many peoples’ lives.  People go to college for several different reasons.  It could be so that he/she can obtain a higher paying job, have a love of learning, or want job stability.  Each of these things is important to me and is a huge factor of why I want to go to college. However, one of the main reasons I am going to college is to be an example to my three siblings. My sister 14 years old, my two brothers ages 13 and 5. Five years ago, we lost our grandfather who was the sole provider for our family, from kidney failure.  Our grandparents got legal custody of myself and my siblings about 10 years ago, because our parents were unable to take care of us.  Our parents are victims of drug abuse. This unfortunate incident left my family in a very hard situation.  With four kids under the age seventeen, my grandmother has had to scrambled to make ends meet, cutting it close on paying car notes, house notes and daily life payments.  My family underwent a dramatic lifestyle change.  I knew how much stress this put on my grandmother, Maryanne. However she continues to go without and make the best home for us. She is my super hero and I couldn't imagine where we would be without her love and security. I lay awake every night wondering how can I help her to help us.  How where we going to pay for basic things?  What could I do to help the situation?  Questions like these ran rampant in my head all day.

College is a huge factor in keeping a job in the world today.  Without a college education, many families are thrown into a stressful and discouraging situation similar to the one that my family was thrown into. My younger siblings had a hard time completely grasping the situation and couldn’t fully understand what our family was dealing with.  This was when I decided I would be the example.  I wanted to show my family that going to college is essential and that it makes for a happier, healthier life.

Being the oldest puts me in a perfect situation for being an example.  This is a great motivation for me to go to college.  Since neither of my parents went to college, it is up to me to set a trend now.  Many people don’t realize the influence that you have on your siblings.  If they watch me graduate with a great scholarship and also going to college to get a great career, they will have a higher motivation to do the same.  College is a huge step in my life and I know that aside from going to get a better job, or because I love to learn, it is because I want to be an example.  I have the power to influence my younger sister and brothers and I want to make the best of the situation. I want to go to college so that I can be the example they need.

I have chosen two colleges to go to, one is Sacramento State in Sacramento, Ca. and the other one is UC Davis of Berkely, Ca. I have one more year before I graduate from high school, but I have enrolled in our local community college for the Spring semester. I was told that there is a good chance that I could graduate early from high school. I have a 3.8 grade point average and I am a Honor roll student.

Every year and especially doing the holidays I volunteer at local nursing homes to spread laughter and joy to the residents. Most of the residents are elderly people who don't have family or friends to visit them. I love to take care of people who are less forunate, I guess I got that from my grandmother. I want to share my love and kindness with the world. That is why I have decided to become a Registered Nurse.

I am asking you to please help me make my dream come true for going to college by pledging whatever you can. I want to make something out of my life and be a responsible, caring, educated and productive citizen and human being.