The Emergency Fund
“If I didn’t come up with the rent, there was a possibility that I would be evicted and may have to drop out of my classes, which would delay my dental hygienist studies.”
My financial situation for the upcoming academic year has been very difficult. My family struggles financially, so family contributions to my education are not possible. I work 40 hours a week throughout the whole year, to help me pay for college and minimize any school debt.
Recently, I had half of my rent in a secured pocket in my backpack, to deposit into my account after a class. We are not allowed to keep our backpacks next to us in labs due to all the chemicals that we are exposed to during our experiments, so all of our bags go in a separate room. Later, when I got to the bank to make the deposit, I discovered the money was gone. I filed a police report with the on-site campus police, but unfortunately there are no cameras in the building. I was not in a position to make up the rent, which does not include utilities and food.
If I didn’t come up with the rent, there was a possibility that I would be evicted and may have to drop out of my classes, which would delay my dental hygienist studies.
Thanks to the Emergency Fund, I received support to pay the rent and stay in school to work towards my goal of becoming an orthodontist. Becoming an orthodontist would allow me to help people accomplish a perfect picture smile, and functioning jaw/bite. It won’t feel like a job, but more like an enjoyable and fulfilling life.
The Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation established the Emergency Fund to help students in need all across the District, so that they can focus on their education and not their financial situation.