Hello my name is Anthony Cruz I’m 45 yrs old, and I hold a full time job at Costco wholesale. Ever since I was a little kid cooking in the kitchen with my mother, I have wanted to go to culinary school. My mother worked at the local grocery store, and my father owned his own landscaping company. As a family, we did ok, financially but when it came time for college they couldn’t afford to pay for me to go. So I was on my own, I was forced to pay for college with my own money. While I was at school I worked along side my father to earn money to fund my schooling. I didn’t realize how expensive it would be, so after two years of attending Mesa Community College I was forced to drop out. For 6 years I worked full time for my father and then I got married when I was 26. My wife had 2 kids when I married her, and it became my priority to provide for them and her. I was very lucky to have them, and I do not regret the decision I made but truth be told it was a set back to my dream. After being married for four years and working full time, we had our third child. So now I was working, and had to support my wife and three kids, when we found out that our 12 year old niece was living in a bad environment at home with her mother. So we welcomed her into our home, and took on the responsibility of raising her. We took care of her and treated her like our own child. In the midst of my hectic life already struggling to provide for my family, we received some tragic news, I was diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease. An illness that covers the organ in cists and will eventually shut the organ down, I became very ill. My brother volunteered to give me one of his kidneys, and he was a perfect match. After the transplant took place, it was several months before I recovered and was able to return to work. But now we were in an even worse situation financially then ever. I couldn’t help provide for my family while I was sick, so it became my wife’s responsibility. We couldn’t afford to make payments on our house, we could barely afford food. With my family in such a bad position I had to pick up two jobs to help us get back on our feet.
After years of raising kids and working full time at multiple jobs, the only child I had left at home was our youngest, now a sophomore in high school. My wife and I were not doing so well, so we decided to get a divorce. I gave her the house, and went out and rented an apartment. Now only working one job it was a bit harder to pay for things, rent, food, phone, vehicle, utilities, and helping provide for my son. But I still made it by okay. My whole life I have lived from pay check to pay check, either getting by okay, or just barely making ends meet. My last child is now a senior in high school and functioning independently, I finally have the time to go back to school. What I don’t have though is the money to pay for it, so I have applied for federal aid, and I am filling out all applications for grants that apply to me. I also have a plan for after school as well I am tired of just barely getting by, and my plan will fix that, but first I need the money for school .Every little bit will help me make my dream a reality. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, Anthony Cruz.