Help Kaitlin with Remaining Tuition for Howard

Hello, My name is Kaitlin Ross, and I am a rising junior at Howard University majoring in Health Management with a minor in Political Science from Florence, South Carolina.

From my senior year of high school to my first year of college, I endured the first pivotal year of COVID-19 and lost two people close to me due to gun violence. Experiencing these tragedies all at once when I was supposed to be enjoying senior moments, applying for scholarships, and preparing for on-campus life led me into a deep depression and overall lack of motivation toward things that would typically excite me. I was able to win a scholarship during my first semester, but the lingering depression caused my grades to decline and ultimately cost me to lose it. Although that time has passed, the memories of overwhelming sadness and zero drive still affect me today. I am glad to have found the motivation to apply to Howard University during that rough time because it gave me a bigger purpose and the strength to get to a better place. I now understand how important it is not to get lost in my emotions regarding my education. I have recently applied for over $45,000 in scholarships that I hope to be awarded. Even if I do not obtain every scholarship, I am still proud that I gave my best efforts to apply to them. Hopefully, with assistance, I can continue the legacy I have begun at Howard University.

In my two years here at Howard, it has become my second home. From teammates to professional connections, along with lifelong friends that have become more like family. Not receiving assistance with my tuition would mean letting go of many things. Things such as the family I plan to make within the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences Undergraduate Assembly, as I have become a newly appointed representative for the upcoming school year. It would mean letting go of the cheerleading team that allowed me to cheer on our Division 1 football and basketball team and cheer on the sidelines for two rounds of the NCAA march madness games. It would mean letting go of access to our three libraries that bought many hours of group and independent study sessions. It would mean letting go of my second home at Howard Plaza Towers East, where I've had late nights of studying in our lobby, shooting nerf guns in our hallways, and multiple sleepovers with my friends/roommates. Lastly, it would mean saying goodbye to the professional relationships I have made among my professors and advisors. In the two years I have spent at Howard, my advisors have helped me become a better student by exposing me to helpful workshops and opportunities while also helping me get my classes aligned so that I not only focus on my studies but extracurriculars as well. Despite the common stigma of HBCU advisors not being present, my advisors were more than present and only a phone call away, which gave me a sense of comfort to know that I could go to them for help at any time. I can honestly say that ending my time at Howard two years early on top of missing my first in-person year due to the pandemic because I cannot afford tuition would genuinely hurt me more than help me.

Howard University is an excellent school, but the tuition costs can make or break someone’s chance to experience it fully. Donating towards this GoFundMe would greatly help me get the full Howard experience which includes a priceless education and networking opportunities. I would love the chance to continue the legacy I have started building at this institution and would greatly appreciate any help. Thank you.