My name is Jewel H. Ward, and I am asking for financial help so I can get through the last few months of my PhD program, for which I currently have no funding. I am about 4-6 months away from finishing my PhD in Information and Library Science. (My dissertation work is on automating policies to reduce storage costs of large data sets. Yes, something that is actually practical, LOL.)
I hate begging. Let me start by getting that out of the way. I’m proud. I hate asking for help. As the saying goes, "pride is for tomorrow". I’m independent, and I am used to working for what I get — not asking for it. I’m used to giving, not taking. But here I am…I would be grateful for any amount of help, $1, $5, anything you can spare. I hope you will consider this an investment, not an donation. I promise to give back as a way of thanking people for their help on my road to success.
I am from a working class family, and I do not have the financial background to support myself unless I actually work. I am the first in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree, the first to earn a master’s degree, and I would like to be the first to earn a PhD. I would be grateful for a financial boost after this financially challenging year, so I can focus on the dissertation this spring semester.
Currently, I give back with time and knowledge. I use my technology and research skills to raise awareness of elephant poaching by maintaining a blog. I write DIY articles to help bootstrapping solo entrepreneurs build better websites for their business.
Here's what I look like. I clean up nicely, sometimes!
I need to write up my results and conclusions sections, and then defend the dissertation. That’s it, and I’ll be a PhD. I have worked my way through this degree for 9 years. I would like to use the money to cover basic living expenses, then tuition and fees, and health insurance -- yes, I am currently health insurance-less -- so I can focus and complete the program. I have been in a Catch-22 where I am working so much to bootstrap a business and/or find part-time or full-time work, that I am not able to focus on writing the last sections of the PhD. Financial worries drain you and create a lot of stress, as many of you know.
How did I get in this position?
Last December 2014 the acting head of the group I had worked in for 7 1/2 years had to lay me off due to budget cuts with the National Science Foundation. I was assured it was nothing personal, nor a reflection of the quality of my work. I had about 6 months left in my program. Or so I thought. My acting advisor and I did not quite work well together, and when my regular advisor returned last summer after recovering from a heart attack, I thought all would be well. After all, I’ve always been able to get or find work after funding cuts. Not this time, however.
I had some savings, but my money ran out about 6-7 months after I was laid off, in July 2015. I cannot seem to find a job. I set up a home-based consulting business for SEO, metadata, and data anlytics. I am slowly growing clients, but it isn’t enough to cover my monthly bills, and it took months to correctly position myself. I have applied for full-time jobs, for contract positions, for temp jobs. I have applied to work at grocery stores and to wait tables. Still nothing. Over the past few months I have gotten woefully behind on all of my monthly expenses.
[Updated next sentence, March 2015.] I faced eviction. There, now I’ve said it. I would be so grateful for any amount of financial help. This has never happened to me, not any part of this. The lady at the food bank told me every person who comes to her says this. I keep thinking that if I could _just_ _finish_, then I can get out of this no-man's land of being over-qualified for some kinds of jobs, but not quite there degree-wise for other types that require the PhD. It's a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless.
Questions you may be asking....
Why don’t you have savings?
— My savings was wiped out by medical bills in 2006-2007, and I have not been able to replenish them substantially because I have been a student and working part-time. (No, I didn’t think it would take 9 years to get through this program. Else I would not have done it.)
Why don’t your parents help you?
— My mother is a widow on a pension and does not have the financial wherewithal to help me. She has helped where she has been able. As I said, I am from a working class family.
Why don’t you friends help you?
— They have, as much as they can with what they have. I am blessed, and I have been amazed at the amount of love and support they have given to me this year. However, there are only so many times you can ask for help. I want to be a blessing to my friends, not a burden. Again, I’m no lay about. You can read my LinkedIn profile and see that for yourself. I also give back, as I can, when I can, with time and money, coaching and helping others learn and grown, especially with technology.
Why doesn’t the department help you?
— The money goes to the newest members first, not the oldest. Yes, I should have finished sooner. Please don't judge me. Oftentimes, things happen that cause delays that are not always within our control. Yes, _life_ stuff_ happens, and I've done my best to navigate it all.
How the heck have you taken 9 years to work through a PhD?
— I used to ask people that same question. Long story short: not every aspect of this is within our control. It is not the same process as taking classes, and there are a lot of deliberate barriers and politics to navigate and prove one's worthiness. The work has been the easy part, to be honest. :)
Why should I help you?
— No one thinks joblessness or homelessness will happen to him or her. And when it does…all I can say is, your dollars will be put to good use, and not wasted. No fancy coffees or clothing. Your dollars will be used for rent, utilities, food, tuition/fees, and health insurance, if I raise enough.
I know there are worse problems out there. I see the refugees fleeing their war-torn countries, and I think my financial problems are so little compared to what they have gone through. I have a problem born of hard work and a certain amount of privilege.
However, I have put my heart and soul into this degree for most of a decade. I want to finish it. It’s a Big Deal for my family, and for me. I’m so close. I’m so close. I don’t want to not finish over a few thousand dollars.
Finally...
I cannot tell you how grateful I would be for any amount of help -- $1, $5, any amount you can spare. I’ve dreamed of this moment for a long time. My father didn’t finish high school because he had to go to work (although he later got his GRE and a two year degree). My mother finished high school, and eventually worked through an Associate’s degree. I have worked hard my entire life. I am asking for a financial boost to get through this last stretch, so I can meet my monthly expenses and get finished.
I would like to finish this PhD. Please help me.
I appreciate your time and effort reading this far.
Last, but not least:
Thank you. I appreciate your kindness towards me.
-- Jewel
I hate begging. Let me start by getting that out of the way. I’m proud. I hate asking for help. As the saying goes, "pride is for tomorrow". I’m independent, and I am used to working for what I get — not asking for it. I’m used to giving, not taking. But here I am…I would be grateful for any amount of help, $1, $5, anything you can spare. I hope you will consider this an investment, not an donation. I promise to give back as a way of thanking people for their help on my road to success.
I am from a working class family, and I do not have the financial background to support myself unless I actually work. I am the first in my family to earn a bachelor’s degree, the first to earn a master’s degree, and I would like to be the first to earn a PhD. I would be grateful for a financial boost after this financially challenging year, so I can focus on the dissertation this spring semester.
Currently, I give back with time and knowledge. I use my technology and research skills to raise awareness of elephant poaching by maintaining a blog. I write DIY articles to help bootstrapping solo entrepreneurs build better websites for their business.
Here's what I look like. I clean up nicely, sometimes!
I need to write up my results and conclusions sections, and then defend the dissertation. That’s it, and I’ll be a PhD. I have worked my way through this degree for 9 years. I would like to use the money to cover basic living expenses, then tuition and fees, and health insurance -- yes, I am currently health insurance-less -- so I can focus and complete the program. I have been in a Catch-22 where I am working so much to bootstrap a business and/or find part-time or full-time work, that I am not able to focus on writing the last sections of the PhD. Financial worries drain you and create a lot of stress, as many of you know.
How did I get in this position?
Last December 2014 the acting head of the group I had worked in for 7 1/2 years had to lay me off due to budget cuts with the National Science Foundation. I was assured it was nothing personal, nor a reflection of the quality of my work. I had about 6 months left in my program. Or so I thought. My acting advisor and I did not quite work well together, and when my regular advisor returned last summer after recovering from a heart attack, I thought all would be well. After all, I’ve always been able to get or find work after funding cuts. Not this time, however.
I had some savings, but my money ran out about 6-7 months after I was laid off, in July 2015. I cannot seem to find a job. I set up a home-based consulting business for SEO, metadata, and data anlytics. I am slowly growing clients, but it isn’t enough to cover my monthly bills, and it took months to correctly position myself. I have applied for full-time jobs, for contract positions, for temp jobs. I have applied to work at grocery stores and to wait tables. Still nothing. Over the past few months I have gotten woefully behind on all of my monthly expenses.
[Updated next sentence, March 2015.] I faced eviction. There, now I’ve said it. I would be so grateful for any amount of financial help. This has never happened to me, not any part of this. The lady at the food bank told me every person who comes to her says this. I keep thinking that if I could _just_ _finish_, then I can get out of this no-man's land of being over-qualified for some kinds of jobs, but not quite there degree-wise for other types that require the PhD. It's a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless.
Questions you may be asking....
Why don’t you have savings?
— My savings was wiped out by medical bills in 2006-2007, and I have not been able to replenish them substantially because I have been a student and working part-time. (No, I didn’t think it would take 9 years to get through this program. Else I would not have done it.)
Why don’t your parents help you?
— My mother is a widow on a pension and does not have the financial wherewithal to help me. She has helped where she has been able. As I said, I am from a working class family.
Why don’t you friends help you?
— They have, as much as they can with what they have. I am blessed, and I have been amazed at the amount of love and support they have given to me this year. However, there are only so many times you can ask for help. I want to be a blessing to my friends, not a burden. Again, I’m no lay about. You can read my LinkedIn profile and see that for yourself. I also give back, as I can, when I can, with time and money, coaching and helping others learn and grown, especially with technology.
Why doesn’t the department help you?
— The money goes to the newest members first, not the oldest. Yes, I should have finished sooner. Please don't judge me. Oftentimes, things happen that cause delays that are not always within our control. Yes, _life_ stuff_ happens, and I've done my best to navigate it all.
How the heck have you taken 9 years to work through a PhD?
— I used to ask people that same question. Long story short: not every aspect of this is within our control. It is not the same process as taking classes, and there are a lot of deliberate barriers and politics to navigate and prove one's worthiness. The work has been the easy part, to be honest. :)
Why should I help you?
— No one thinks joblessness or homelessness will happen to him or her. And when it does…all I can say is, your dollars will be put to good use, and not wasted. No fancy coffees or clothing. Your dollars will be used for rent, utilities, food, tuition/fees, and health insurance, if I raise enough.
I know there are worse problems out there. I see the refugees fleeing their war-torn countries, and I think my financial problems are so little compared to what they have gone through. I have a problem born of hard work and a certain amount of privilege.
However, I have put my heart and soul into this degree for most of a decade. I want to finish it. It’s a Big Deal for my family, and for me. I’m so close. I’m so close. I don’t want to not finish over a few thousand dollars.
Finally...
I cannot tell you how grateful I would be for any amount of help -- $1, $5, any amount you can spare. I’ve dreamed of this moment for a long time. My father didn’t finish high school because he had to go to work (although he later got his GRE and a two year degree). My mother finished high school, and eventually worked through an Associate’s degree. I have worked hard my entire life. I am asking for a financial boost to get through this last stretch, so I can meet my monthly expenses and get finished.
I would like to finish this PhD. Please help me.
I appreciate your time and effort reading this far.
Last, but not least:
Thank you. I appreciate your kindness towards me.
-- Jewel
Organizer
Jewel Ward
Organizer
Chapel Hill, NC