Help me to achieve my dream to be a teacher

I’m Chrislyn, 27 year old solo mum of two and a science geek. I currently hold a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Biomedical Science, specialising in Genetics from the University of Auckland. However, I realized that although I enjoyed doing the research behind the lab, my true passion lay in science education. I absolutely love stimulating critical thinking and subsequently inspiring an interest in science.

Accordingly, my dream is to become a licensed high school science teacher and ignite a passion for learning in children. I want to teach because I love it, I love to give and I love to inspire and I firmly believe that education can change lives.

Discovering your true purpose is hard. I feel grateful to have discovered mine. But turning that purpose into a reality for me is even harder at this time.

I'm not one to leverage woeful stories, but my current situation makes it difficult for me to achieve my dream.

I have spent the past 2 years going through a harrowing and expensive divorce process to end an unhealthy marriage. During the same period i have fought for custody of my two children, which has left my finances in shambles.

I worked extremely hard at my Undergraduate studies and maintained an A average, while working as many jobs as I could and raising two children. I tutored a number of papers at University and also gave voluntary tuitions to underprivileged children from refugee backgrounds to help them integrate into school.

I have currently been accepted and enrolled in the Master of Teaching at the University of Auckland. I am actively paying off my undergraduate loans and am saving as much as I can for my Masters. It will cost approximately $20,000 to reach my goal. Taking an additional student loan is something I am desperately trying to avoid and this will still not cover my living expenses, although I have every intention of working as much as I can.

I’m hoping you can help. I am not usually one to ask for monetary help, nor do I expect it, however any donation to my cause will be most gratefully accepted, and give me more time with my children. And if I exceed my goal, any excess money will be donated to KidsCan charity to help Kiwi kids achieve their full potential.