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Yashieka Fearon was overwhelmed with emotions after people began responding to her request for help, which was made via the crowd-funding platform GoFundMe.

The May Day, Manchester student has set about raising US$21,990 (approximatley J$3.2 million) to pay her way and help her sustain herself while at the prestegious Howard University, in Washington,DC, in the United States of America, where she has been accepted to study next academic year.

"I feel overwhelmed by the support," she told THE STAR. "Three days ago I cried when the first US$30 was in there."

As at press time yesterday, US$11,455 have been pledged towards Fearon's education.

"I didn't think I'd get the support because of how hard times are, but people are really showing out, especially on Twitter, they are showing the love and everything. I just want to thank everybody for taking the time out to donate their hard-earned money to what they think is a worthy cause," Fearon said.

Full-tuition scholarship

In her GoFundMe appeal, Fearon said: "I applied to Howard University, and I was offered admission to this illustrious institution. The tuition and fees, including boarding, is US$48,080 per year. I was awarded a full-tuition scholarship to the institution valued at US$27,000. Although a generous award, an estimated sum of US$16,930 is still required for boarding, meal plan, maintenance, books, visa fees, and flight," she said.

Karen Green, the mother of Fearon, is ecstatic that her daughter has been accepted to the Black Ivy League university. She wishes she had money to help her through.

"I don't have it to send her to college. I don't have the first US$100 to give her, not even to pay a third of the fees. I work at a courier service in Mandeville, Doorway Express, as a sales represenative there, and that money can't cover anything," Green told THE STAR.

Young Fearon has never disappointed when it comes to academics. She attained nine grade ones with straight-'A' profile at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) level and four Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) subjects. She dreams of becoming a pharmaceutical scientist, a profession that involves researching and creating drugs that pharmacies dispense.

"Since I was in grade six, I always worked hard in school because I always hear that if I work hard in school, I could get a scholarship, and I know that my mom couldn't afford to send me to higher education," Fearon told THE STAR.

If you would like to help Yashieka Fearon, you may donate to account #50195 in the name of Yashieka Fearon at the Mandeville Branch of Scotiabank.

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