Recently I have been accepted into Emerson's MFA Creative Writing program.  At 22 this is a huge honor considering that most who are accepted are above the age of 28, are wildly published, and have had professional careers.  However the only downfall to me being accepted at a young age is the cost.

I graduated in December with honors from the University of Missouri and have been struggling to continue my life's dream of becoming a well established writer ever since.  In spite of excellent grades and community and university involvement, I received little scholarship money and was forced to take out multiple loans to cover tuition room and board.  Although receiving your college degree is supposed to place you in a better socioeconomic position, it hasn't.  I graduated with $21,000 in student loans and am looking at a substantial amount more, if I attend Emerson.

Tuition at Emerson is a little over $22,000 for the academic year.  With room and board included (which I am forced to live off campus because of my graduate status) the total will average somewhere around $35,000. I will be not receiving any help to cover to costs.  Their financial aid department hands out minimal scholarships and there is no way that I can personally afford it.  I'll be honest with you.  I am poor Missouri trash.  My father died of a brain tumor a few days before I turned nine which left my family in financial ruin.  After he died, I became a surrogate parent to my siblings babysitting while my mother worked, and as soon as I turned legal working age I was in the workforce to help make ends meet.  I have no savings account (because I've never been able to afford one), and I have minimal credit card debt ($2,000) which I had to accrue due to lacking funds and rising living costs.  No one in my family can afford to help me, and I already work just to make ends meet.

I have never been lazy, and offer much future promise.  During my undergraduate career, I worked for the University while participating in two interships, one requiring graduate level research and the other for The Missouri Review.  I also was an editor for the undergraduate literary magazine, Epic, and have been published by Epic and have a forthcoming essay to be published by Alfred A Knopf (which I unfortunately won't be receiving any money from).  I volunteered for Big Brothers Big Sisters and even helped implement a creative writing program for at-risk youth at a local afterschool community center.  I graduated with departmental honors, dean's list, and invitation to Sigma Tau Delta the national english honors fraternity.

 Now I just ask that someone give me a chance.  I will make something of myself and am determined to do so.  I am not just a waste of some donation.  I have other problems too (failing car that needs a new air compressor, credit card debt, tight funds) but they don't matter.  With them I can make it by.  What matters is my education and the progression of that education.  Emerson is in a publishing hub and offers numerous opportunities for advancement.  I just need help to get there.  Thanks for listening and have a beautiful day!

 I can be reached at gabela@missouri.edu