Tenza has reached her fundraising goal on HandUp!

Why I'm using HandUp for a laptop.

Raziel is in the 6th grade in San Francisco. It is very hard for him to do all of his schoolwork without his own computer. We have to go to the library or Native TANF to use a computer. Libraries limit the time you can spend on their computers. Since I am a full-time college student, we are constantly juggling our needs for time on a computer. Raziel has just found out about a new coding program that will be offered at his school. It's an after school program and he really wants to take it. I know he really will do better if he has his own laptop. We have found a Lenovo Yoga 2 11.6" laptop. It only weighs 3 lbs so Raziel will be able to carry it pretty easily. I have used a Lenovo before, so I feel comfortable helping him with it.

About me.

Born in Indiana, I was raised there and in South Dakota and Arizona. My family is from the Lower Brule and Crow Creek reservations of South Dakota and Quebec, Canada. I moved to San Francisco from Flagstaff, Arizona a little over a year ago. I am a full-time student at City College of San Francisco, majoring in Women's Studies. I am also working on a certificate as a Sexual Health Educator and in Diversity and Social Justice. When I am not taking care of school-related responsibilities, I enjoy volunteering in my community, participating in cultural events, such as powwows, and spending time with my son, Raziel.

Raziel is a very good student. He gets A's and B's. He loves to read. It has been hard for him to study and always get all his homework done when we were living in a shelter. We have just moved into our own one bedroom apartment. Raziel plans on joining the soccer team at school. He loves skateboarding. He is a Northern Traditional Pow Wow Dancer and goes every week to the Young Warriors Group at the Native American Health Center. His favorite subjects are science and computers. He is a very generous person. If he has extra food, he will always give it to a homeless person.

My backstory.

Until the first week of October, we were living in a homeless shelter. As a single mother, I have not had the education or job skills to support our family in San Francisco. So I was determined to get an education so I could have a career instead of working odd jobs. I also wanted to inspire my son to get a college education. This means that there is no money for extras like a computer.

My goals, moving forward.

I plan to finish my Associate's Degree and transfer to a four year college. I'm still exploring career options as this is my freshman year of college. Even though I sometimes worry that I'm too old at 30, I've heard some inspiring stories from Native American women who have gone back to school after they were already a grandma.

Other things I'd like to share about myself.

My proudest and happiest moment was when my son was born. My wildest dream would be to have my PhD in Ethnic Studies or Native American Studies and be a tenured professor at a university.