Hello and Blessings ✨ 

My name is Nia Nobles-Vincent and I am a 20 year old black woman trying to continue higher education but currently facing a roadblock. I started my education pursuing Architecture at the Howard University in 2018 and my first semester was raped on campus by someone I trusted. I was also experiencing financial abuse at the hands of my father, holding my tuition funds over my head because I refused to engage his abuse. All of this stress coupled with my severe anxiety lead me to the point of considering suicide during my second semester, prompting my departure from the university in May of 2019.

I returned home disappointed in the first year of my college experience but thankful I had the strength to keep going with my education. Back home in Chicago, I chose to continue my education journey at University of Illinois at Chicago given my proximity to the campus and the status of its School of Architecture. However, I was denied because my application was unfinished due to my previous institutions taking their time with submitting my transcripts. I am in the process of submitting my appeal and I require “new and compelling information that was not originally part of my application” that I currently do not have because all of my current information has already been submitted to the school.

So, I implore you, share your support for a black woman striving for better and sign my petition so I can submit this as evidence that I am deserving of a chance to start school again in the fall at UIC. I just want to do better. Thank you ^_^