Desperate for Tuition

My name is Andre Hernandez. I'm putting my pride aside and creating a gofundme because honestly, I don't see any other options right now. I am 32 years old and realized I hated what I was doing as a career. My previous job was as a Patient Access Manager at a hospital. I started my career in the emergency room and loved it but as time passed, I knew it wasn't for me. I had found a new love.

I moved to San Antonio, TX with the love of my life and decided to get married. I found that cooking was my calling. I found that I enjoyed feeding people and thrived off the reaction they made when they tasted my food. I also found that I could have a career in something that I actually enjoyed doing. This was never a thought in my mind. I always thought that you worked, you went home, and then you went to sleep and do it all over again. That was not the case anymore. My wife pushed me to sign up for culinary school so I did. Here in San Antonio, we have the opportunity to attend one of the most prestigious schools in the USA; The Culinary Institute of America. So here I am in my first semester and I'm crushing it. I pay about $2500 for first-semester tuition after financial aid and grants and scholarships and I guess it is my fault for not understanding tuition but I thought the next semester would roughly be around the same price. Well, the price comes out and I owe $6K by 7/19. I have already switched to part-time work so it's not like I don't try to come up with the money. But 6 grand for most people is a lot of money... especially in a few weeks. So here I am, desperately asking for money. I have never made a gofundme nor would I ever ask for money from strangers. I can't just go to my parents and say "Hey I need money can you help me?" I feel like that's not the normal for regular people. We work, we earn, and pay bills.

This website advises a breakdown of funds so here is what I have. The total tuition for this semester is $17,760. Texas Board fee $965. Texas General fee $470. Health Insurance fee $1,812. Total $21,007. Financial aid gives me Pell Grant of $3,698. Culinary Institute of America Assistant Grant $2,000. El Sueno Scholarship $8625. Total of $14,323.00 in assistance. Leaving my balance at $6,684.

If any money is donated, it goes straight to tuition. That's it. There is no scam or plan to walk off with the money. I feel like that has to be iterated because I've read of scams using Gofundme. Anything is appreciated and if there is a way to keep track of who donated, I will 100% make you a meal and put all my love into it. Thank you.