Help Abdelrahman Go to Harvard!
Donation protected
Hi! My name is Abdelrahman Abouzid, and I now go by Zaid.
As many of my close friends know, the past few years have treated me as one would not hope. After my dad lost his job back in 2018, I lost my spot in graduate school and many job offers and was eventually issued a deportation order. Sadly, my life started heading south long before the pandemic hit us. In October 2019, during a very tough time for my family to manage finances and figure out immigration, I decided to move to the United States. It was difficult to leave my family and everything behind and book a ticket for uncertainty. Although I had some money saved before I took that brave step, it started the most financially challenging part of my life. I am grateful to have a wonderful circle to support me here in Evansville, IN, that I now consider family. Since day one, Brooke & Hasib Aljandali generously hosted me in their house, where it was not just a roof but a place I can call home. A favor I will forever remember. They made me part of their family and made sure I never needed anything (including endless unconditional love from their puppies )
My difficult journey became even more exceptionally challenging when COVID-19 hit. It canceled the job I originally moved to the U.S. to take. Even worse, it delayed my immigration paperwork, which left me with zero income until September 2020.
When I finally received my Work Authorization almost a year after my arrival, I had spent all my savings and went into a lot of debt.
From the moment I decided to migrate to the U.S. and from 7000 miles away, I had so many friends supporting me, especially Sara Alansari, Hind Alansari, Anas Hasanien & Emad Althalathini, who treated me like a brother and constantly offered help.
Things started to get better last September as I got the chance to support myself. I did not waste a single day when I received my Work Authorization. I immediately started a labor job in a plastics factory to afford my independence. My blue-collar job, which I still hold, is not what I was hoping to do, but I have to do it to afford my living expenses. With the current job market situation, I haven’t had any luck with a better job opportunity.
During all this time of not knowing what’s next, I applied to some graduate schools to major in education, and I got into Harvard!
While applying, I had so many plans and ideas to afford it, but ever since I moved to the U.S., NOTHING has been going as planned. The total cost for attending Harvard Graduate School of Education to earn my Master of Education is estimated to be $90k. Covering everything from moving, tuition, and living expenses. So far, I have secured around $35k in scholarships and decided to start a GoFundMe campaign to raise the rest of the money for attending my dream school. Meanwhile, I will not give up and will keep seeking other scholarships and grants.
I have so many plans and goals for the future that attending Harvard will help me achieve. The first is to get a job to secure a stable income and establish a new life with a better future. Most importantly, I aspire to build a strong career path to change the education industry, which I have always been passionate about and seeking to advance it.
How can you support me?
You can donate money, which will directly help me afford to go to Harvard (ANY amount will help!)
You can share my story and ask your friends and family if they can support me.
You can simply send me a supportive message to help me go through this journey and become stronger.
You can also do all of the above. ❤️
My journey has been very overwhelming that I cannot identify point zero or the moment I hit rock bottom or if I even got out of it. It has been extended, uncertain, draining, depressive, and so much more. This is the most challenging part of my life, and I have been trying my best to get through it. I will continue working hard and being the fighter my parents raised me to be. I appreciate your support (literally life-changing) and kindness in advance and wish you all the Best.
As many of my close friends know, the past few years have treated me as one would not hope. After my dad lost his job back in 2018, I lost my spot in graduate school and many job offers and was eventually issued a deportation order. Sadly, my life started heading south long before the pandemic hit us. In October 2019, during a very tough time for my family to manage finances and figure out immigration, I decided to move to the United States. It was difficult to leave my family and everything behind and book a ticket for uncertainty. Although I had some money saved before I took that brave step, it started the most financially challenging part of my life. I am grateful to have a wonderful circle to support me here in Evansville, IN, that I now consider family. Since day one, Brooke & Hasib Aljandali generously hosted me in their house, where it was not just a roof but a place I can call home. A favor I will forever remember. They made me part of their family and made sure I never needed anything (including endless unconditional love from their puppies )
My difficult journey became even more exceptionally challenging when COVID-19 hit. It canceled the job I originally moved to the U.S. to take. Even worse, it delayed my immigration paperwork, which left me with zero income until September 2020.
When I finally received my Work Authorization almost a year after my arrival, I had spent all my savings and went into a lot of debt.
From the moment I decided to migrate to the U.S. and from 7000 miles away, I had so many friends supporting me, especially Sara Alansari, Hind Alansari, Anas Hasanien & Emad Althalathini, who treated me like a brother and constantly offered help.
Things started to get better last September as I got the chance to support myself. I did not waste a single day when I received my Work Authorization. I immediately started a labor job in a plastics factory to afford my independence. My blue-collar job, which I still hold, is not what I was hoping to do, but I have to do it to afford my living expenses. With the current job market situation, I haven’t had any luck with a better job opportunity.
During all this time of not knowing what’s next, I applied to some graduate schools to major in education, and I got into Harvard!
While applying, I had so many plans and ideas to afford it, but ever since I moved to the U.S., NOTHING has been going as planned. The total cost for attending Harvard Graduate School of Education to earn my Master of Education is estimated to be $90k. Covering everything from moving, tuition, and living expenses. So far, I have secured around $35k in scholarships and decided to start a GoFundMe campaign to raise the rest of the money for attending my dream school. Meanwhile, I will not give up and will keep seeking other scholarships and grants.
I have so many plans and goals for the future that attending Harvard will help me achieve. The first is to get a job to secure a stable income and establish a new life with a better future. Most importantly, I aspire to build a strong career path to change the education industry, which I have always been passionate about and seeking to advance it.
How can you support me?
You can donate money, which will directly help me afford to go to Harvard (ANY amount will help!)
You can share my story and ask your friends and family if they can support me.
You can simply send me a supportive message to help me go through this journey and become stronger.
You can also do all of the above. ❤️
My journey has been very overwhelming that I cannot identify point zero or the moment I hit rock bottom or if I even got out of it. It has been extended, uncertain, draining, depressive, and so much more. This is the most challenging part of my life, and I have been trying my best to get through it. I will continue working hard and being the fighter my parents raised me to be. I appreciate your support (literally life-changing) and kindness in advance and wish you all the Best.
Organizer
Abdelrahman Abouzid
Organizer
Evansville, IN