Victim of online scam hoping to provide for Smash

Jan Aquino is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

Providing the FUN in fundraiser!

My name is Jan. I haven't shared this story to most people because of how personal it is and I most likely repressed it because I wanted to move past the trauma, but having learned of UCLA's Smash Bros. club getting their equipment stolen recently reminded me of it. The truth is that I lost a significant amount of money, $10k, from an online scam on Facebook dating a couple of years ago. And now I can't help but feel the financial pressure and strain it has caused and contributed to for me ever since. I reported it to three different agencies, but was never able to recover anything back because of how very nearly impossible it is to trace and reclaim cryptocurrency (more details about it at the very end of this page).

It hurts my pride asking for financial assistance, but I'm hoping to recover at least a fraction of what was taken from me. And as a Smash Bros. tournament player and enthusiast, donations will be put into my weekly Smash gathering in Ventura (more details at start.gg/SSBUFF) towards the costs of keeping it running: venue rental, additional posters and frames for the artwork I've commissioned a friend to advertise the event with, and extra setups to have more players maximize their playtime. Attending my event and bringing setups would help a lot. And spreading the word about it would be greatly appreciated.

I'm doing everything in my power to make my Smash weekly as successful as it can be despite being a victim of an online scam, to provide a place for players to practice (offline battle arenas) and have fun (friendlies and crew battles) in order improve their tournament results. I'm continuing to stay positive despite what has been wrongfully done to me.

Special Announcement from Sora-Kirby!

Thank you to everyone who has attended and donated, and to those continuing to support! It truly means the world to me!

Update:

I want to take this time to share an even more personal story. Up until now, I would fear what others may think of me. But a little over 7 years ago, I once tried to take my own life away. My entire life up until college I grew up with my parents, family, friends, and teachers praising my grades and intelligence. Pushing myself for greatness and excellence had become my norm and baseline. And so when I decided to drop out of UCSB, I felt like a failure. My expectations were too high. I was always the honors student striving for straight A's and perfection. I wanted to make my parents proud by becoming a doctor. So when that dream didn't become a reality, I felt like I wasted so much time and effort into school, believing that I used up so many years of studying when it ultimately didn't land me my dream job.

But now, God has given me a second chance and I will never try to throw my life away ever again. My family and friends still love and support me and I will never take them for granted. Even to this day, I haven't fully forgiven myself for the pain I may have caused them. But I'm trying my very best to remind myself what's done is done and that the past is in the past. Today I've come to the realization to reframe my regret and perspective: I killed my old, overthinking self and came back out reborn as a new, stronger person.

I have learned to live contently day by day, to not compare my life with others due to the societal pressure of being wealthy to achieve happiness. I learned to stop caring what others think of me. Life is too precious, and I'm going to live it at my own pace. True happiness is living life contently. And I gotta say - even if I'm still having doubts about either being sustainable - competing in Smash tourneys the past several months to push the meta of the character I relate to the most as far as I can, and providing an affordable weekly gathering for my fellow players to practice offline together have been the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of my life. More so than becoming a doctor would ever give (no jabs at those who have stuck with the rigors of that career path, I've got nothing but respect to everyone working in the medical field).

And as a suicide survivor, I just want to say that for those who are currently battling their own inner demons, you deserve to live. Despite your perceived shortcomings, you deserve to be happy. If I'm able to get out of my dark and cloudy days, then so can you. It takes strength to just continue smiling, remain positive, and love yourself.

I would like to thank my friends and family who still love and support me regardless of my faults and mistakes. Especially my mom who - despite our hardships and financial struggles - has always been a ray of sunshine and source of positivity for me ❤️ And to everyone who has helped my Smash event a reality: from the artist of the poster to the donors, and from the owner of the venue to those who have simply read my full story behind it and spread the word about it for me to help keep it running!