College is an experience, but grad school's a commitment. I've been working toward my master's degree in global policy studies at the LBJ School of Public Affairs for a couple years now, and I'm just a semester's worth of credits short.
That semester keeps getting pushed back. I've sold my car, liquidated my savings and worked hard to get to this point, but the last push needed to get over the line is stalled. My last crowdsourcing campaign didn't go as planned. I underestimated the amount of time I'd need and overestimated my needs.
Chastened by that experience, I'm back to try again. With your generosity I hope to make it over the top this time.
How much is needed and by when?
Thanks to the folks who helped me last time I only need $10,000 to cover the final semester's tuition and living expenses.
I'm hoping to run this campaign through the spring, while I look for opportunities in the fall. I'll be looking for assistantships and scholarships to cover any unexpected expenses.
The family back in Japan has been struggling to scrape by, so their support has been moral support and well wishing. I hope having good news on this front will help ease some of their burdens.
So what's all this about anyway?
A globalized world requires a global perspective. My degree in global policy studies emphasizes combining the analytical skills of a policy maker and the perspective of a global citizen. In a world where things seem to be expanding in scope, policy makers need to expand to fill that gap.
My friends who've finished their degrees have gone off to make a difference at NGOs, aid organizations and governments. I'd like to join them, and for that I need your help.
The Art of Policy Blogging
Policy professionals on the whole need to do a better job of communicating their ideas to the public. Blogging provides a fantastic platform to break down complex issues and engage in wide ranging debates.
For the past year I've blogged at the League of Ordinary Gentlemen and have tried to shed light on some of the more obscure knowledge I've picked up in my time studying public affairs. I hope you'll take the time to check out our archives and give your feedback!
Other Ways to Help
If you can't make a donation at the moment, then try to forward this link on to people who might be able to! Or if you'd like to add your voice to my pitches, I'll be making some pitch videos in the future, and would love to have feedback from my regular readers.
Thanks for reading, and let's get this done!
