I completed my first semester at Midwives College of Utah and am faced with a delimina of not being able to continue due to finances. I applied for financial aid and due to how my school works, even though its a Title IV school, and the Dept of Education has choosen to disburse finanacial aid awards to Midwives College of Utah (my college) every 12 credits with a full course load for one semester is 6 credits. I completed 6 credits this summer during my first semester. So that means I won't receive a disbursement until January, after I've completed and paid for 2 semesters out of pocket, however my next semester starts September 1st and my monthly tuition payment is $522.56. I've already missed August's payment due to not having the money in our bank account to pay. My tuition is $2090 per semester, every 4 months. My costs for books, supplies, and testing fees is $308 for this coming semester. $523 is needed by August 31st in order for me to start my 2nd semester and $523 is needed by September 15th in order for me to take a semester off without negative discourse. My 1st semester assignments and exams are still being graded, but I did receive 99/100 on my first research paper on Postpartum OCD. I believe in the power of choice. I believe in the transformative power of the birthing experience. I believe that when people are supported, they feel empowered, and able to be their best selves. When parents are supported in the birthing experience, then they are able to start their journey of parenthood as their best self. Raising children is the hardest job and the most important, that requires the best from parents. Midwives are in the unique position of caring for a woman, as she becomes a new person, a mother, whether for the first time or the 5th or more. I believe people should have choices where they bring new life into the world. Birth is a sacred event that deserves reverence. It deserves people in attendance that respect birth for its beauty. It deserves people attending the laboring mother who are educated and trained to know what is in the realm of normal, what needs intervention, and when to transfer to a hospital. Funding my midwifery education provides my community with choices on where to give birth through my midwifery service. Thank you for any and every gift.