Help with my Education and Transportation

I’m 22 years old and graduating in May 2019 with a Bachelor’s in Sociology. I’m requesting money for grad school related expenses and a car. In grad school,  I’d pursue research and advocacy for undocumented students, with goals of increasing financial aid for them and prioritizing on campus housing for homeless students, students experiencing any type of abuse at their current place of residence, and students with transportation issues. 

I’m the first in my family to get a degree and am able to stay in the U.S thanks to DACA.  For those who don’t know, DACA allows people brought to the U.S as undocumented children, a renewable work permit and protection from deportation. DACA doesn’t provide official legal status meaning I don’t qualify for FAFSA and many scholarships.  

In high school,  my 3.4 GPA, AP classes and extracurriculars, earned me acceptances in  multiple universities. But realistically, my options were local community colleges or CSU San Marcos. I applied for the CA Dream Act financial aid application, which helped with tuition, but didn’t provide aid for other expenses, making even my transition to CSUSM challenging.

My last 2 years of high school, I struggled with the following: My father the breadwinner of the family,  lost his job. Our family turned dysfunctional. I was forced me to become a parental figure to my younger siblings. Our utilities were frequently turned off and we were food insecure. Already struggling with anxiety and ADHD, all of this took a toll on my mental and emotional health. Luckily, my AVID teacher loaned me her tablet, so I could take it to places where I could access the internet,  and complete schoolwork and college applications.

As a college freshman, my family and I were homeless. We stayed in motel rooms and couch surfed. I started working two jobs: one at a furniture store and another as an  AVID tutor. Towards the end of that school year, my family and I got an apartment. But that summer, my dad was detained. My mom and I couldn’t afford rent. She and the kids went to live with my aunt. I rented a room.  Being a full time student, working two jobs, my job performance began to suffer-and I was let go from my tutor job.

 However, my AVID middle school teacher, helped me find scholarships, enabling me to complete my 2nd year with less stress. The following summer, I moved back with mom, hoping to save on rent. However, she still wasn't a supportive person. When  I could enjoy my time, I’d participate in slam poetry at a place called Glassless Minds, and volunteered at a community center. For the 3rd year, I moved closer to campus. I enjoyed my on-campus job at a cultural center. I joined a research project interviewing high school educators about undocumented high school students. I even got a boyfriend. Towards the end of that semester, I lost my job. I mainly survived on free snacks supplied by the university library. I applied for jobs ferociously and 3 months later,  I was hired as a bilingual tutor working with Migrant Education kids. I’m still working at that job. Despite everything, I have made the Dean’s list several times, and persisted on completing my degree.

Denied access to the FAFSA, I risk giving up my dream of going to grad school. Without a car in Southern California, it’s nearly impossible to secure a stable job that will enable me to use what I learned in college. I am currently able to get to work on time because my fiancee and I coordinate a fragile schedule: I work in the morning, enabling him to work later in the day and evenings. But this arrangement wouldn’t work when both of us need to work 40 hours a week, once I graduate. Many of the jobs I’d  be eligible for upon graduation would in the non-profit sector, and providing social services to people. I’d be required to drive to certain organizations, offices, and in some cases drive disadvantaged youth and people to appointments. Many of the applications explicitly state that it’s a requirement for me to have my own vehicle and insurance to apply. This would also help me work more flexible hours, and not worry about being late to work or missing work when the train or bus lines shut down, and  can't afford Uber/Lyft. Finally, it’d be a safer way for me to travel at night, especially as a young woman.

Please donate if you can, every little bit helps. If you cannot donate I urge you to please share on your social media, email or phone. Thanks and  appreciation to you all.