" Dreams come true. Without that possibility, nature would not incite us to have them " - John Updike

For as long as I can remember, my parents have always echoed the words "follow your dreams" to me, and now more than ever, those words play over and over in my head like a broken record.

Well what is my dream? You may ask. My dream is to fulfil my destiny, and bring change through innovation to the beautiful twin island republic which I call my home: Trinidad and Tobago.

I've recently been blessed to be amongst the select few accepted to pursue a Major in Computer Science with co-op at The University of Toronto, Scarborough. In additioin to this great accomplishment, I have been given an offer to join the varsity blues men's soccer team which will grant me the opportunity to earn scholarships later on.

With all this great news however, there is the little inconvenience of the global COVID-19 pandemic. This catastrophe has affected my family and the majority of families across Trinidad and Tobago, and has inflicted job loss, sickness, loss of property and most unfortunately even deaths. Not only has it inflicted these damages, it has also made it extremely difficult for travel and commerce. As it stands currently, ticket prices to Toronto have skyrocketed, and in addition to hefty plane ticket prices, I am required to pay for a hotel to quarantine in for a certain number of nights, as well as I am required to pay for the PCR test for covid.

For the past month and counting, I have been unable to work and save money to help pay for my tuition and other expenses due to the country currently being in a state of emergency. Much thought and planning has gone into my studying in Ontario for roughly the past year and a half, but with my parents' line of work being in the food industry, there have been far too many cases where in order to pay bills and simply have food available to eat, our savings have dwindled to the point of near depletion especially with the SOE in order currently. As a result, we find it extremely difficult to get funds to go toward my airfare, hotel accommodation and most importantly my tuition, half of which is required by September.

For this I humbly ask for and accept with the most gratitude any donations which can help to jumpstart my dream.

To you all, I thank you and God's blessings.