I grew up in an area that the majority of my friends consider the ghetto. Even though I spent the majority of my life trying to deny this fact it became evident in middle school and powerfully evident in high school. In middle school, several of my peers in my area had been to the local juvenile detention center and graduated to do jail time in high school. Some of them are currently in prison. I would list names but if you are from the RDU area - and even if you're not - you probably hear about these kids on the news.
Regardless of these social influences, I still graduated from high school and attended my local community college while working to pay for it. My part-time job was sufficient to pay for my education at that level but once I graduated and went to a four years university, I was forced to take out loans. I was unable to qualify for any of these loans by myself so I had to use my parents as co-owners. This would be perfect, but my interest averages about twelve percent even with them signing.
Determined to meet this debt head-on, I continued working while I was at my university. This helped to offset many of my living expenses until the pandemic hit. During this period of time, I was let go from my job at the time because I missed work one day. I woke up unable to breathe and I wanted to get checked out before I returned to work. But my employer did not care even though I brought in a doctor's note.
Following this, I lost my living quarters and I was forced to live on my friends' couches. Through this struggle, I still worked two jobs to get back on my feet while I was still enrolled in school. I did this for about a year before I was able to drop down to one full-time job and moved into my own apartment.
At this point, I only had one semester left in school. I finished undergrad and I was promoted into a management role and life seemed to be moving in a positive direction. I could pay rent, living expenses, and student loans, and save money. But all of this came to an end after I was assaulted by one of my employees. The company did an ill-performed interrogation which resulted in both me and the employee being fired even though I did not lift a finger to harm the employee. Even while being attacked, more physically capable, and a superior fighter. I did nothing to defend myself because I needed to keep my job. I could not afford to appear at fault in any way; however, it did not matter.
At this point, I was out of options. I paid the remainder of my rent for my apartment and moved back in with my parents. I have been struggling heavily with work and have been unable to meet my last two student loan payments and nothing is indicating that things will improve anytime soon. Also, I have built up credit card debt too since I have been struggling with work. And if that is not enough, I’ve had serious car troubles over the past six months. Some of which still need fixing.
This is not a complete view of the situation but enough to build the frame of what I am currently battling. Please, help. I am an extraordinarily independent person and it pains me to create one of these. But, I need help. My family needs help. If you are able to, please donate any amount.
