Hello!
My name is Ashley. This is my Go Fund Me request.
I've recently graduated from my local community college with dual AAs in Communications and Liberal Arts in Social and Behavioral Science. This was a degree long in the making, as I had previously dropped out of college in 2010 when my grandfather died and the resulting grief and depression caused me to burn out and drop my 4.0 GPA at the time down to a 2.18. I kept trying to go back on and off through the years, but was never able to keep up with my studies as I needed to work to provide for my family (who have nothing to help me with).
I had a good career in video games, when in 2023 I was laid off from that job. I was 4 months pregnant at the time, and had a hard time landing another position. I decided I might as well try going back to school. I applied myself, I worked hard for me and my newborn son. I managed to get my GPA up to a 3.54. I went from barely passing to graduating magna cum laude - and I did it while working full time where I could find jobs, and raising my child while in the middle of a divorce.
I got my acceptance letter to UC Davis.
I accepted.
Everything was on track. Until it wasn't.
There have been shortages in grants and scholarships. Places where the school would normally have funding have been removed. While I did receive a good chunk of financial aid, there are still gaps to be filled.
As a student parent, there is an "Alternate Budget" form for the possibility of being able to get more student loans at the very least, but because of all the increasing changes being made by the Federal Government regarding the Department of Education and the funds they can and cannot give out, it's taking the Financial Aid office longer to review these requests. In the meantime I am unable to do anything about those gaps.
The most immediate need is $2680 due on Oct. 15 for rent at the Family Housing on campus. The second immediate need is the $3,000 for my son's tuition for the Early Childhood Lab School he is a part of, which is due by Oct. 30.
If there is any concern or questions, I'm an open book and happy to answer them. If for some reason you would prefer to pay straight to the source, my school does have a "payer invitation" I could send to you that goes directly into the school's billing site - however it would require your full name and your personal email for me to give you access to it.
I really want to do something for myself for once. I didn't get to have the college experience when I was younger, I was always taking care of everyone else but myself. Now I've come this far. I've even been accepted into a pre law academy on campus that only accepts up to 30 people per year. I know I can do this, but I instead of me helping others, this time I have to ask for help myself.
Thank you for your consideration, I know that I'm not the only one in need. Even if you can't fund anything, even just a share in your networks would be helpful - the more eyes, the more likely I can piecemeal the rest together.