Manchester teen hopes to study in China
Tiarah Morris, 19, is seeking to enrol in a university overseas to study international law. However, the unexpected financial difficulties her family is experiencing, due to the coronavirus pandemic, is proving to be a challenge.
Morris, a recent graduate of the Bishop Gibson High School in Manchester, is hoping she can raise the monies needed to be admitted at the Ningbo University of Law in China for the semester starting September 2021.
The Duff House resident, who would have started tertiary-level education this year, decided to sit out the year and gain employment to raise money to finance her education.
She said that studying in China is the cheaper alternative to studying law at The University of the West Indies (UWI), which costs $1.5 million a year.
“I applied to The UWI and was accepted, but I wasn’t able to pay the tuition because it costs a lot when you think about it. Taking a student loan doesn’t cover a lot for law, and I would have to be paying back student loan and pay my tuition, and that just seemed like a lot. That’s why I applied to the university in China,” she said.
Morris told THE STAR that while has been accepted to Ningbo University, she needs to secure approximately J$335,000, which covers her tuition and housing, by January 2021.
The decision to study overseas arose when her classmate shared there are scholarships available to do so.
“The scholarship opportunity really stood out to me and I want to experience new cultures, see new things and be able to relate to new people,” Morris said.
She is hoping that persons will donate to her GoFundMe campaign, to help finance her education.
She has set a goal of raising US$20,000 (approximately J$2.9 million) and has so far got US$175 (approximately J$25,649) since the campaign was launched on October 4.
“I don’t feel like I should settle for less than I want, and if that means I have to work while going to school I will do that. There are persons given opportunities and they don’t make the best of it, I’m not that kind of person. I am really a great investment and I will not let anyone down.”