Hardship to Hope: Jacob's Journey of Hope

My name is Jacob Potere, and I humbly request your kindness and generosity.

Since my birth, I have been part of the welfare system, raised by a single mother. Before I even entered this world, my biological father abandoned us, leaving my mother and me in a state of hopelessness. With no contact or support from him, he has managed to evade over $70,000 in child support, funds that could have made a significant difference in our lives. Throughout my upbringing, my mother and I experienced the instability of constantly shifting from one place to another, relying on the generosity of others. I attended five different elementary schools and three different middle schools during my formative years, which taught me the invaluable skills of adaptability and resilience. Despite these challenges, a sense of security always eluded us.

The notion of college never crossed my mind or that of my mother, until I enrolled in AVID during my freshman year of high school. AVID is a program that prepares individuals facing disadvantages in life for college, much like myself. It was through AVID that I found encouragement to pursue higher education. Nevertheless, I was well aware that the path would be arduous, expensive, and demand immense dedication. Graduating high school in the top 10% of my class with a GPA of 4.4, and being a state cross-country runner, I received acceptance letters from over 20 colleges and universities across the nation.

However, Dominican University of California captured my heart. Today, I proudly hold the title of a Dominican alum with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, becoming the first person in my family to graduate from college. Yet, achieving this dream came at the cost of relying heavily on student loans to finance my education over those four years. Now, as I strive to pursue my MBA and continue my educational journey, the expenses have continued to accumulate, resulting in over $40,000 in student loan debt.

Every day, I ask myself, "Why do I persist in this endeavor?" The answer is simple: I do not want my future children to start their lives burdened by the same financial hardships I experienced. All I have ever desired is to begin my adult life on equal footing with others, rather than being ten steps behind. That is why I humbly request your kindness and generosity to help me alleviate my student loan debt.

Thank you sincerely for your unwavering support and kindness. Your contribution means the world to me, and I deeply appreciate your generosity. If you are not in the position to financially help I hope you could just pass this along. Thank you.