Loss of job after eight years can’t dim architecture student’s light

I am finishing my Junior year enrolled in the BEnvD program at UH Manoa. Normally we spend a lot of time in our studio spaces (12-20 hours a day). It is a busy lifestyle. When COVID-19 hit we were just preparing for spring break so it was nice that we just made it through midterms and it was a "smoother" transition to online courses. Being an architect student studying online is being taken day by day as a lot of our work is normally physical.

I am an independent 31-year-old, working part time so my schedule and routine is pretty strict in order to pay my bills (living paycheck to paycheck) and be a full time student. Due to COVID-19 I got "temporarily laid off" my job that I have been at for 8 years. I have worked since I was 16 years old and this is my first time not working so it is very scary. I was just left in wonder of what will happen next and very vulnerable. I have no other source of income. I have been applying weekly for unemployment due to recent events but still have not received any checks yet.

So, generously receiving the amount from this foundation really helped me get by, with providing groceries and daily needs for the past couple of weeks. Thank you to all who were involved in order to help make this happen and for taking care of all of us who are struggling in any way that you folks could provide. It really was a blessing that you were so quick to respond to those in immediate need.

I am looking forward to finishing this year strong. I had big plans to study abroad in Italy for my last Architecture studio class, but unfortunately it got cancelled early on due to COVID-19. So all of us on track to graduate this year are trying to make that happen via online. This should be very interesting and we have to be patient and take it day by day. Who knew this would happen though, it came upon us so suddenly. I am thankful for the time we have to spend on our studies and that we are still able to learn through distance learning.

I am thankful for what I still have and am capable of doing during these hard times. Thanks to the generosity of people like you.