Hi guys! My name is Shelach-Joel Roberts, I am 35 years old and I live on the isle of Trinidad and Tobago with my wife and son and I'm establishing this fund raising venture to cover my tuition and expenses at medical school.
Being a medical doctor was always my goal in Life. I presently work in a hospital as a Radiographer for over twelve (12) years, I have seen patients come in and recover, and others I've held their hands for the last time. I know This is where I belong, this is where my calling is. So I turn to you, I cannot do this on my own. And I am not below seeking help, we all do and will do at some time in this life.
For the past seven years I have worked/studied, sweated, and sacrificed, given of my time and energy to others, to get to where I am today. And now, on the thresh-hold of a dream becoming reality, a mountain loomed up.
In Trinidad and Tobago, we were graciously blessed by the government with a programme called G.A.T.E, that ensured tertiary level education for all who met necessary requirements. One could access GATE Funding and have their tuition fully covered for their duration of study, it was also possible to repay this funding and thus, access funding again for another programme because in a sense, you would have 'paid' for said programme. Whilst pursuing my Bio/pre-med degree, it was made known to us that GATE will only be funding one programme and we'd have to re-imburse GATE to gain further funding.
So, my wife and I decided to bear the financial strain of this programme with the hope of re-imbursing GATE and the mindset that medical school is way more expensive, and we will use GATE funding for it. This was our plan, and we stuck it out! And now after years of schooling, hoping, and praying, working nights, separated from my family, struggling, consistently exhausted and sleep deprived but still going and dreaming, toiling towards this goal I finally graduated Cum Laude.
Then, without warning, G.A.T.E.’s policies changed, and our dream was snatched from us!!! I personally felt robbed... and to this day I still feel that way. G.A.T.E.’s new policy states that One can no longer use the re-imbursement method. And ALL OF THIS I came to know just when I got accepted into medical school in Barbados, UWI Cave-hill campus. This thing Hurts.
Being a medical doctor was the goal, the plan, the drive. After working so hard to have it almost within my grasp to have it all slip away. That's why I'm requesting all of you, my friends to please, kindly donate to help fulfill this dream to help pay for this tuition. No amount is less, because I’m telling you, medical school is really expensive!!! Thank you all!! Much Love!!!!! ^_^