4.0 student needed $4,000 to attend his dream UC school. LA Times readers stepped in, gofund at 38K

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

The 17-year-old senior at West Adams Preparatory High School had dreamed of attending the University of California campus ever since middle school, when he first saw brochures of the beautiful grounds and then learned about its strong science programs.

He knew little about college preparation. His mother, a single parent from El Salvador, didn’t know how to help him; she left high school after ninth grade. But she always encouraged him to work hard in school and pursue his dreams. So he did.


But as the May 1 college commitment day approached, Jonathan was on the verge of declining the offer. He had decided to attend community college instead. Although his financial aid package offered $29,265 in grants — a federal Pell Grant, a Cal Grant and a $10,368 institutional grant from UC San Diego — he faced a $4,000 shortfall in covering the mandatory tuition, room and board expenses.

His mother, who works from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. most days in two jobs as a low-wage restaurant cook, couldn’t help him. His own income as a part-time Starbucks barista wouldn’t be enough. They didn’t want to take out loans that would financially squeeze them even more. He was disappointed — even admitted to crying — over his inability to afford his dream school, but told himself he would make the best of it.

Then, everything changed. The Times wrote about his plight .....

Offers of aid poured in. The high school was deluged with calls. Times readers asked how they could help.

-------

So far, donors have raised thousands of dollars for the two students. One nonprofit started by the late Episcopal Bishop Jon Bruno, Hands in Healing, has awarded Jonathan a $10,000 grant. In his interview this week with the scholarship committee, he described his passion for science and desire to help people as a doctor after a close relative died of cancer some years ago. When committee chair Mary Bruno announced they would award the grant — and would consider renewing it if he kept up his academic progress — Jonathan’s face broke into a huge grin.

“I am so grateful!” he said.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-04-27/this-low-income-student-just-needed-4000-to-attend-his-dream-uc-school-heres-what-happened

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-jonathan-attend-uc-san-diego

[Marius25]

1. In 1st World countries, good schools are cheap enough that people don't

need generous donations from strangers to attend.

But glad this kid was able to get into his top school.

[xocetaceans]

2. It's a shame that the US has decided that this is how higher education is to be sought here.

How hard is it for people to understand that having a well-educated populace is a benefit to society?

Instead, we get the demented GOP dream that every thing has to be a business, a personal investment or some sort of twisted take on personal responsibility.

Is it any wonder that people like King, Gohmert, Nunes, Scalise, Bachmann, Tuberville, Walker, Trump, W and Greene (the list goes on) are Republicans?

[Sympthsical]

3. I hate these "heartwarming" stories

"See how a community pulled together to raise money for their neighbor's cancer treatment!"

Here's the thing. If a system requires charity and loans to provide the basic functions of society - healthcare and education - then it is a broken system.

I don't feel good about this story. Rather the opposite. It pisses me off.

His options were go into a ton of debt or rely on charity. That's what our policies result in.

I hope the resident, "They choose to take out loans!" brigade is taking notice.

[Initech]

4. I know. It just shows how broken our system is.

And people keep electing conservatives who break it further and further.

[BOSSHOG]

5. Yes indeed

Those who profit mightily from capitalism are blind to the reason that socialism looks so good to so many. They are the reason. Compounded by the fact that republicans love very stupid people and very rich people.

[JI7]

9. No, he was going to go to community college and then transfer if he didn't get the charity

[WhiskeyGrinder]

6. Okay but what about the others who don't get features written about them.

[shanti]

7. You know what they say though

'a closed mouth don't get fed'.

[JI7]

8. Go to community college as he was planning to do

and transfer to UC after that .

[dlk]

10. Republicans' goal is to monetize everything

Profits before people, always.