Currently, I am pursuing a bachelors degree in Biology - Clinical lab sciences with a minor in Chemistry. I am a 3+1 student at the Midwestern state university and have been accepted into the the clinical program in St Francis hospital OK which begins in May 2022. I have an outstanding bill at the university from 2020 which I have not been able to clear. I work full time as an international student. It is very tedious as I am still a full time student. I am facing troubling registering for the corresponding classes in my clinical program because of that outstanding bill. Getting this money would aid in clearing off my debt at the university and would allow me in to continue my education journey. Paying that amount on my outstanding balance would allow me to continue my clinical program and graduate in December 2023.

Having to live your home country to pursue an education is not easy. It means not being able to wake up to your family, or celebrate birthdays or even spend the holidays. It means missing out on the simple pleasures of Family time as well as friendships. At the age of 20, I left my little island in the Caribbean, Dominica to pursue a university education. Today, I am student at the Midwestern State University determined to graduated with a Bachelors in Biology with a focus in Clinical Laboratory Science and a minor in Chemistry. Having an education beyond High School is a remarkable achievement to me. Neither of my parents were fortunate enough to have an education experience past high school. My father never made it past primary school. Out of my father's five children, I am the first to even have a college education. Before coming to the United States, I was a major provider for my family. This education journey meant leaving my family to fend for themselves while I pursue a degree to build a career in hopes to provide for them as I once did. Not being able to graduate means having wasted resources, energy and time. It means disappointing myself, my family and friends. It means not completing my goals and falling back on the promises I made to myself to do better. Having come from a low income household, I know what it means to struggle for the things in life. I know what it means to not be able to afford proper healthcare and to rely on assistance from others to get treatment. It for that reason I decided to pursue a degree in Medical Laboratory Science. With only a little over a year left in my program, I intend to graduate and a certified Medical Laboratory Scientist and Phlebotomist. I aim to one day pursue my Master's degree and the my PhD in the program. With that education, my final goal is to open a medical lab back in my island to provide affordable tests to be performed. With the advancement in technology, I dream to provide facilities that are unable on the island as nationals often need to travel for proper healthcare. My challenging journey to get this far in my education journey, as well as my career goals are the two major reasons why I am determined to graduate from university.

In my 23 years, I have faced numerous challenges which have molded the independent, aspiring, determined young woman I am today. Jimmy Dean once said “I can’t change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” This quote remains my daily motivation to keep pushing through. In May 2013, I was hospitalized at the Princess Margaret Hospital in Dominica. After 2 weeks of constant heart palpitations, loss of consciousness and no conclusive results, I was transferred to Martinique for further treatment. I was diagnosed after one week and remained on the island that summer monitoring before being allowed to return home. I was strongly advised to take a gap year before pursuing my College studies in September that year. I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in the Medical field but, after having to leave my home country to get a proper diagnosis, it became undoubtedly necessary to pursue a career in Medical Laboratory Science. With my goal set, and realization that it would take me a few years to earn my degree, I was adamant about continuing my education journey and began college that same year. Although I needed refrain from excessive activity, I pushed myself as much as I could and graduated as an Honor student of the Dominica State College in March 2016 with an Associate's degree in Biology, English and French. The plan was to work for two years, save and migrate to the United States to continue my education journey. Things did not go as planned. In 2017, Hurricane Maria hit my little Island and I was left homeless and my parents unemployed. My dreams became nothing but a vision. At the time I was a Customer Service Representative and work was halted for some time and when it did resume, hours were limited. With both my parents un-employed, most responsibility of the household finances was left to me. With a mortgage, bills and a Godchild to assist, I worked overtime where necessary and began baking pastries to sell after church to keep up with my expenses. Two years after the hurricane, my parents then self-employed, I was granted a Scholarship to attend the Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. I knew the journey would not be easy since my parents would not be able to provide much assistance. I began my university education and excelled, becoming a member of Tau Sigma Honor society after my first semester and being awarded for high achievement. However, in September 2020, my battle with financial expenses began. The commencement of the pandemic in 2020, led to my Scholarship not being renewed as my country fought to limit expenses. I was left to fend for myself. My parents are still unemployed and so it is very challenging to cover my expenses. I have been voided from classes three times since I am still unable to clear off my tuition balance. Today I am a Biology Major focusing in Clinical Lab Science, with a focus in Chemistry who was accepted into her Clinical Program which begins in May 2022. With no idea on how to clear my expenses and finance my program I have not given up. Five years ago I would never envision myself this far. It is through my countless setbacks and trials, I have learnt the strength of Prayer, the willpower of persistence and the vigor of determination. These experiences have taught me never to limit myself, to rise even stronger than before and to trust that there is and will always be a solution.