Costa Rican/Ecuadorian Dreaming to Study Abroad

Help me reach my educational goals!

My name is Sara Josefina de la Torre, a student who attends the Monteverde Friends School, a Quaker school, within a Quaker community in the mountains of Monteverde.   I am the daughter of Ecuadorian parents of an indigenous culture, but I was born in Costa Rica, so I have two nationalities to which I belong. I identify more with the country where I was born in and grew up in, rather than with being Ecuadorian, however I do not leave my roots that are my family’s culture . I am a  person who has dreams and goals in life. Who wants to have a better future, to help society and explore the world.

I have goals that I want to make true, one of them is to study abroad.  I haved apply to Olney School, which is a Quaker school and I got accepted, but I will have to pay a certain amount that I consider a lot of money. My family owns a small Ecuadorian souvenir store in town and the majority of time when I am not studying or in school I am helping my family in the store, this money goes towards our basic subsistence.  This study abroad opportunity is for an entire school year, meaning I will also get to graduate from Olney. In my case it will be my first time to study abroad where I never had this opportunity before. After that I wish to keep studying and go to college. 
This will be a good opportunity because Olney School has high skills on educating students. 

 
I define Olney as a good option to discipline myself better, to learn new study techniques, as well as improve my English skills in a native country of the language and to develop myself as a successful exemplary student with values. Something very strong from Olney school is the cultural diversity which is present  in this small community, this captures my attention to know different points of view of different cultures and share my culture as well. It will help me grow to push further my thoughts as well as my opinions and be more open-minded and that’s what I’m looking for, so I can move forward with my goals. Olney can help me achieve my goal of studying  at a university abroad by guiding me and giving support. One characteristic of this school is that Olney graduates have been admitted to dozens of top universities. 

 
The date that classes will start is the 16 of August 2019; However studying in a private school like Olney is very expensive, even though I will enter with a scholarship that still doesn't cover all of the expenses, and it is hard for me to pay because it is a high amount of money for my family. In order to make this opportunity happen I will need about $5,000. This includes; $1,270 for tuition, $1,555 for school related fees (registration, books, etc.) also $700 for air travel, $350 U.S visa and medical tests, $1,000 living expenses and $100 to take the SAT.

 
I graciously ask for you to consider helping me and sharing my situation so people can know me, to support me, I will be very thankful to everyone. You can help make my dreams and goals come true, you can help provide me with the highest level of education.  I will be working hard too, preparing and selling food in my community along with working at my parent’s store.