From her Parents:
When you get to know her, you find that she is one of the smartest, most talented, and fun-loving children you’ll ever meet. She enjoys learning songs on the piano, practicing Karate, creating art and science projects, and playing chess among many other activities.
Cruz is 7 years old and getting ready to enter the 3rd grade at GEMS World Academy, a designated International Baccalaureate School here in Chicago.
Cruz showed a very early knack for learning. Reading by age 2, she had already mastered shapes, colors, numbers & letters before setting foot in a classroom. She could point to a map and show you where each state was located. She even learned the names of all the planets, dwarf planets, and nebulae in the galaxy.
When she tested into GEMS four years ago for Pre-Kl, we had chosen GEMS for some very important reasons. Above all, we felt that it was the best opportunity for her budding talents and gifted mind to reach their full potential–and it was one of the best decisions we could have possibly made.
Little did we know, COVID would change everything for us and provide us with unforeseen challenges that we’re still working to overcome even today.
Our jobs were lost, our savings depleted, and we were forced to move, but Cruz’s education remained our top priority. We stayed close by and kept Cruz enrolled despite the strain of private school tuition on our finances.
Today, we face an even bigger challenge, as high costs of living and increasing costs for a growing child make it ever more difficult to keep Cruz in her scholastic community, where she is thriving as a student and as a classmate.
Cruz continues to be consistently one of the best students in reading, math, and language in her class. However, if we are unable to re-enroll her in this year’s program, we are almost certain that she will take steps back both academically and emotionally. There is also the real risk that she will have to repeat 2nd grade if she has to attend her local public school.
She has been granted as much assistance by her school as possible, but it’s simply not enough with our current financial hardship. Unfortunately, several state programs that could have assisted Cruz this year have been discontinued, and this is why we are seeking your help.
Cruz has worked extremely hard and impressed so many people with her gifts. Your donation to her school fund will ensure that she can return to the environment that has helped her come this far, and prepare her for a boundless future to come.
Please donate today!
