The opportunity of a lifetime has presented itself to me, and without you, I can't take it. I will let an Ivy League university go by despite having spent seventeen years of my life preparing for this moment. I've always had good grades and I've always worked very hard in school. but a fact of life is that sometimes you just don't have the economic capability to follow your dreams. 

However, I don't want to give up. I already work two jobs, and my parents also work as well. My grandfather works too. I've already applied for federal student aid, I've applied for loans, I've applied for scholarships. The truth is that at this point I've done everything I've possibly can, and my education rests in your hands now. 

Every single donation, every single share, will help me. Even just five dollars -- what some of us spend on coffee in a single day -- will help me chase my dream. Please, I ask from the bottom of my heart that you help me go to UPenn in any way possible. 

Thank you, 

Valerie Toledo.