Last year of University!

Hi,

My name is Roman, some of you may know me from my acting or entertainment work and some of you may be meeting me for the very first time. So for those of you who are new, let me tell you about my educational journey.

I first went off to University in 2010. I attended Pace University in NYC and for the one year I was there I am still paying it off. After my first year I thought I could take a semester off to work 3 jobs and save enough to go back. I never made enough. Between renting a room and the cost of living I was barely making ends meet. In fact I was so broke I couldn't even afford to leave NYC to go back home to California. Albeit, it wasn't like I had a home to go back to really. Everyone I knew was barely getting by. It's a tough economy out there.

Between then and now I've had some successes. I've appeared on some shows, been in some movies and have become a published hairstylist-- also working on film sets. Shockingly I got paid more to be a hairstylist for a film than I was acting in it. So for those of you all jumping to be in the entertainment industry you might want to think hard because art does not always pay.

Around the time the pandemic hit I was living in Paris and...(oh wait) You read Paris and though bourgeoisie and rich, huh? Way off. So after graduating cosmetology school at Toni&Guy in Los Angeles I got a job at a salon in Paris. My dream city to live in. I found a cheap Chamber de Bonne (a room with a hot plate, sink, shower and shared toilet down the hall. The old servants quarters at the top of Parisian buildings.) My rent was only €650 a month. So already cheaper than anything I paid in the states. The issue came in when I got there and the salon owners changed their minds and I was stuck posting vista print flyers in laundromats looking for clients. Thankfully I had worked multiple jobs everyday for a year to save up and my rent was cheaper than expected because it was needed when I arrived with a years lease and no job. I built up my clients and was comfortable in my apartment looking at a brick wall.

Then the pandemic hit and as I laid on my clic-clac (futon) I pondered the meaning of my life and if I'd done everything I set out to before my end? The one thing I wanted was my degree. I always felt so inferior in rooms with educated people. I mean yes I had a PHD in street-economics and survival, but it wasn't and still isn't enough. I wanted a real degree. Something to say this kid from the hood who was writing his mother in prison the first time he went off to University was proving that he could be successful without playing a sport or dropping a rap album. I wanted and still want to beat all odds.

I've had some amazing supporters throughout my life who has helped me in times of need. I mean on social media we show the good right? The travels, the clothes and perks of live. But we never show the ramen noodle weeks or struggles that build so much character. Character we sometimes don't even ask for.

Well TLC said they weren't too proud to beg and I am now there. I was always afraid to make one of these or ask for anything because I was afraid of judgement, disappointment and rejection. I mean who wants to give money to someone who looks like they have it all together right? But I don't and I need help.

I decided to attend university abroad in London because schools are cheaper- yes even as an international student. Not to mention my university takes Fafsa which although putting me further in debt has been a great help. My first year was during the pandemic. So I was living in Atlanta showing up to Zoom classes. I got a scholarship + Fafsa and paid the rest out of pocket. I also got a discount for being stuck abroad and not wanting to pay international costs. That year I lost my aunt to covid, flew back and forth from Atlanta to California to help plan her funeral, I worked in a racist salon in Mableton, GA. and even did an indie horror film for some extra cash. I mean who has time to grieve when you're broke right? I slept on a twin size air mattress in my apartment that was void of furniture and other than the Ikea dinnerware for 4 showed no other signs of life. I propped my laptop on a chair with my back against the wall and dressed everyday for 6am classes and 3am when planning my aunts funeral in California.

I then deferred two years to work more and save. Even became a flight attendant in the process because the salon I was working at with no benefits or perks decided to lower everyone's hourly wage. I mean Dunkin' Donuts was paying more than my salon and I was commuting by bus and Marta every morning nearly two hours to work at both their salons from Decatur.

Finally while floating around wherever I could find work my university emailed asking if I would come back to school? So I began the process and even though I had just gotten out of jail and was going to be spending the next year in courts due to an abusive ex I was willing to drop everything for I doubted I'd get approved for a visa. I'd say it was the Grace of God because I was given a visa in like 3 days! I used my paypal credit and discover to pay for the NHS medical fees, a flight and to ship my 6 suitcase to London and I left.

I've completed my second term now working harder than any other student and actually working a job. I landed on my birthday of 2023 and had my final interview the next day. As an American we hustle and we hustle hard. Unfortunately even after 30 the UK student visa reqs. only allow me to work 20 hours a week. So for a year most of my money has been going to my rent £800 (thankfully all utilities included) and my tuition. I still owe £1500 for last year and I can't register for classes until it's paid for my final year.

So I need your help. Anything you can donate will be helpful. I want nothing more than to finish my final year of university, obtain my degree and get back to working full time-- hopefully outside of the salon. I've been sewing weaves since I was 11, I'm tired! Lol

If you've read my story to the end I truly thank you as it felt good just to vent about all of this. My favourite bible verse is Romans 8:18. Not for vanity, but because I realise that although I am suffering now and surviving on egg sandwiches, tea and the McDonalds dollar menu when I can afford it I will get beyond this and be good or better. Anyone who knows me will attest to me helping and giving unconditionally, so I guess they all thought I had it together. Well the reality of the situation is I don't. I'm determined and hope you can help.