Hello Fellow Philanthropist,
My name is Erica and I am a full-time college student. I am in my fourth year of college and currently in my most diffult financial situation. I am in need of temporary help to pay for my books and tuition this spring semester. You are probably wondering why I am here asking for your help and not turning to family. Well my situation is a little different from most of my peers, I am completely on my own. I do not and have not had my family support for the last 4 years of presuing an education. I am paying my way through college with very hard earned cash that I have saved over the years. By the grace of God I have made it through the last four years successfully. This year however my saving is running short. I will be graduating soon, but not for another year, as I have recently declared my major and scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2008. Although I have not had much to live on each year, roughly about $2,500 a year, I have still managed to give back to others in my community to help them financially. I have written personal checks to single mothers, familes of six, and donated to various charities to aid children such as Ronald McDonald House Charities, and Children's Charities.org, and regularly give to the Salvartion Army. At the same time I have received the occasional financial helping form others as well, but that returned help is very small. I am coming into a desperately tight corner and I cannot seem to find my way out. I have a $1,500 bill hovering over my head from my University that I must pay by March 1st. If this bill is not payed I will be dropped from my classes. You may be wondering why I have not applied for scholarships or loans; well I have applied for scholarships and my financial aid money that was granted to me has run out. I have not applied for credit loans, because I cannot see the good in paying one debt with another debt and higher interest rate. This $1,500 bill is the remainder for this current school year. I am currently employed and doing what I can to make payments, but my university is demanding a full one-time payment of this bill. It is an amount that I simply cannot make in one month. So how did I get into this situation? I will tell you: it began with a surgery on January 12th to remove my tonsils. Due to a deteriorating immune system aided from tonsils that were no longer doing their job in preventing sickness, my physician in my university's campus health center strongly recomended that I have them removed. This original recommendation was given to me 2 years ago, but due to the fact that I do not have medical insurance I did not have the surgery then. Since that time my health began to get worse and I endured repeated illnesses of tonsilitis and strep-throat every 3 months. Finally after a very bad case of tinsilitis that left me with enflammed tonsils for 3 months, I scheduled the surgery at the local hospital Long Beach Memorial. I was forced to use the money that I had saved for my education to pay for the surgery, $1,500.
Now I have the university bill and time is quickly slipping by me. I am asking for the most help that I have ever asked for in my life. I am not one to ask for the help of others, it is simply not apart of my nature. I would rather give than take from the hand of good honest people. I have waited until I have no other choices but to ask from you, the good hard working person who is trying to make their way, just like me. If you can find it in your heart to help me pay this last portion of my educational bill, I will be so grateful to you for your kindness.
