My dream has always been to shoot and direct films. I have studied film independently for as long as I could remember. All throughout high school, I was nominated to train workers in the video department and direct short films for the morning news every Friday. I ended up going to a dream school named the Savannah College of Art and Design, however this came with a tremendous cost... With the economy, everyone knows times are hard. People think art students, who have the privilege of going to art school are rich, snobby, spoiled kids. Well, in some cases that's true, but in most cases these kids (including myself) are normal middle class students, working tremendously hard for the hope that one day they can their money back.. This school costs $50,000 dollars A YEAR! And that doesn't include school supplies, food, equipment, furniture etc, etc. Being tight on money already, it pains me to realize that each year the tuition goes up about $1000, especially since I decided to take my education to the next level by double majoring in photography. Being a film student requires a lot, and right now a lot isn't possible without some help. Money is the one thing needed to support my dream, and bring it to the next level. I will FINALLY be able to get the camera I've been saving and dying for for the past 4 years, I will be able to budget my student films, and I will be able to hire actors to finally make me feel like I am getting the best out of my school. I fantasize about film making everyday, and every project I find, I help in any way I can. I just finished producing a film, and the whole time, even through the stress and problems I faced, I never felt happier being in "school." School was always a placed we seemed forced to go, somewhere where math and science gave you headaches. SCAD makes me feel happy, makes me feel like my life is actually starting. It is not only a place where i have come to meet people I love working with, but a place where I finally love what I'm doing. And though the system doesn't team up with us with the case of our finances, I KNOW that with everyone's help, my dream will finally come true, helping me CREATE my new world through a lens. I hope that in asking for help, I will also be able to take stress off of my parents, who have wholeheartedly supported me through everything and anything I've ever needed or wanted. As I said times are hard, and hopefully by not relying on them for cash all the time, I can relive their stress, so they can enjoy life a little more. The other day I set up a couple job interviews for summer jobs, I got called for a scheduled appointment! So lets hope that this works for the best! Thank you all so very much!

-Omar Abushaikha