Hi, my name is Joyce. I am a 20-year-old international student studying chemical engineering. I’m asking for help because I have reached a point where I cannot continue my education on my own.

 I have been admitted to the University of Alabama for Fall 2026 and received a $20,000 scholarship, which I am really grateful for. However, the total cost of attendance is about $55,000 per year, which leaves me with a gap of around $35,000. As an international student, my ability to work is limited to 20 hours per week. I do plan to work part-time, but what I earn will only be enough to cover basic living costs, not tuition.

 After my mother passed away in December 2023, my family was deeply affected and our financial situation became much more difficult. As the oldest sibling and the first in my family to attend college, I was no longer able to rely on family support. I worked multiple part-time jobs to support myself through my community college years, but I cannot continue on my own without help.

 I will be graduating from my community college in July and transferring to UA. If I am not able to secure the funds by then, I will not be able to continue my education. 
I am doing everything I can, looking for affordable housing, budgeting carefully, and exploring every option I have, but it is still very difficult. I am asking for any support to help me stay in school. Any contribution, no matter how small, would mean so much to me. The funds will go directly toward my tuition.

 If you are not able to donate, sharing my story would also help me a lot. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you are able to give.

 Joyce A.