Dear Readers:

Thank you for taking time out of your busy lives to read my story and consider donating to my cause.

Ever since I was a kid, I've always loved school. I have an early affinity of books and literature to thank for that.

I graduated high school with High Honors (Class Rank of #13), a final G.P.A of 3.65 and even managed to pull a 20 on the ACT.

Between doing very well for myself academically and being from a low-income family (born and raised in McDowell County, WV), I was afforded the opportunity and financial aid to attend Marshall University (Go Herd!)

Initially, I selected Management Information Systems for my major, but due to being far from fond of high level mathematics and falling in love with some of the CMM courses I was taking, I ended up switching my major to Communication Studies (specifically, Interpersonal Communication).

Here's the thing....my freshman year was the only time that Marshall issued student refunds prior to my arrival on campus. I'm an only child and since my mother [during these times] was my sole provider and supporter, I felt it was only right to give her some of it.

Once sophomore year came around, there was no money to give her because this time they weren't released until after I arrived on campus. It didn't matter that I worked faithfully for [the now obsolete] Ameribank from 2005 until their end in 2008, or that I managed to pay for all of my high school merchandise with the exception of my prom wear, or that I gave her as much of my paychecks as I could...it was never enough.

She told me that I was no longer welcome back home. The most painful part is that she wouldn't even co-sign for me to get my own university apartment, even though I had enough financial aid to pay the rent an entire semester at a time. It was as if she hated me for accomplishing my goals and wanted to leave me to the mercy of the streets.

This completely shattered me. I fell into a deep depression and never formally withdrew, rendering an entire semester of grades to Fs.

This woman was my mother, protector, teacher, hero and very best friend for so long...then she turned on me... because I couldn't supply her with the amount of money she wanted whenever she wanted it. Even more insane is that she had an awesome career as a pharmaceutical clerk and was already making decent money.

I, after well over a decade, have the opportunity to return to Marshall as a Junior to complete my B.A. degree.

The problem, however, is that one semester of failures tanked my G.P.A from the required 2.0 that's needed to make me eligible for federal financial assistance. There's no guarantee that Marshall will approve my appeal for its reinstatement.

I've waited too long for this 2nd chance to leave all of my eggs in one basket. Two of the courses that I've registered for are past failures. If I just bring them to Cs [on top of passing my other courses] then that would put me right back at a 2.0, ending my academic probation.

If any of you can find it in your hearts to donate to this cause, it would mean the entire world to me and would change my life forever. Please help me help make this long overdue dream come true.

Sincerely,

Ashley Swafford