Fund a Queer, Low-income, Black Marine Biologist

Hi! My name is Taylorann Smith and I am a Graduate student in Marine Biology trying to finish my last semester at California State University Northridge (CSUN). My research focuses on Microplastic pollution in rare deep-sea ecosystems off the shore of Southern California. I am a queer, Black, low-income person and I am also a first generation student.

I am reaching out to my family, friends and colleagues for support after an unexpected financial crisis. The financial aid office at CSUN contacted me 2 days before the intended financial aid disbursement date to let me know that they would not be disbursing my student loans for this semester due to an issue with me taking ‘too many research units’. I need to take these units for my degree, so I have no other option. This has left me in a state of not knowing how I will continue to pay my bills and get myself through this last semester of school. I am already working the maximum 20 hours a week at my lab, which helps, but is not sufficient in covering my rent, phone bill, utilities, food, and car payment (Let’s be real, LA is ridiculously expensive). Being 3 years into this pandemic, I have also struggled to find other employment to support myself through school. I also live with clinical depression and anxiety which has made it that much more difficult for me to push through.

The goal of $7,000 will help cover my bills until I graduate in June. This includes my rent, phone bill, utilities, food, and car payments. I would be so greatly appreciative of any funds that my community would be able to send my way, and I hope to one day return the favor.

If you would like to learn a little more about my journey and what I do, you can explore these links:

With love,

Taylorann