The HOST Program Award has helped me get food and personal hygiene items. Before the award, I struggled with keeping my family fed throughout the week until my father got paid again. Now, the situation has gotten a lot better. We have a lot of food available for my family. We are no longer eating processed food. We are trying to eat more fresh food because we can afford it now. We also use the money for personal hygiene items like toilet paper, body wash, and shampoo. We have 2 adults and 4 children in the apartment who have benefited from the Award. Thank you for offering me this Award.
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With this opportunity I have been able to jump-start a part of my life I had thought to be too difficult for me to even start. After a long-dreaded move, I had settled in my new house and was now jobless and stressed beyond belief, without transportation and unreliable bus routes. I began to panic as my personal career was tanking due to the lack of a job or any access to a place of work due to my inability to drive or walk to the closest workplaces. I was called into the office one day and offered a financial assistance program from the Help our Students program. Finally, after all of the panicking and waiting and worry I had been given a break, a bit of money that allowed me to get a brand new E-bike. I was now able to make the travel to workplaces to apply and I got a job in a garden center. All of this would not have been possible without that surprise funding. I got a new job and when money ran thin, I was able to pay off my phone bill and even today I spent the last cheque on a 3d printer. I am going into a small side business of 3d printing parts for folk who need something custom made! My life has changed a lot since grade 11 here. The move threw me off course and if it wasn't for this assistance, I don't think I would have been able to keep my head above water let alone thrive as much as I have been due to this assistance. Thank you to the HOST program and to everyone who has assisted me on my personal journey through this transition from my old life into what is ultimately my adulthood. I look forward to hearing about all those this program will help in the future and with that I thank you all for your time, assistance, and most of all your kindness.
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The HOST program has made me able to do a lot of things I normally can't do this year. Not only that I was able to put some away to save for my university tuition. I am very appreciative to earn this bursary and I wanted to give back with what I received. So for Christmas, I got everyone I cared about and loved a Christmas present for the first time making sure to spoil them and give them something they truly wanted. I was also putting it towards helping my mom with rent because of how expensive it was and I knew she needed help. I used some of it to buy myself some good work clothes to get myself a better-paying job and now I work prepping and cooking food. I was also able to get myself new winter boots for the first time in 3 years. This overall kept me going proving to myself that I can make it through high school even if it means helping my mom with bills and working every night, this helped me push myself into getting a job to help more because I realized how much was needed. I'm grateful to my school for giving me this opportunity as well as the HOST program.
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I would like to start this short letter by first thanking Richard Lussier, the HOST program, and all the staff that has awarded me this scholarship. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much to Richard Lussier and the HOST program for supporting me and others like me who are in need of financial assistance. I would like to give a brief introduction about myself. My name is XXXX and I’m 18 years old. I've come a long way to be where I am right now. I’m a newcomer to Canada who missed a couple of years of education in elementary school due to an unsafe environment. When I came to Canada, I was in grade 7, and since then, I’ve been constantly trying my best to learn the language and meet the standards that a grade 7 student needs to know. I've been trying to do that by doing summer school every year and attending a lot of community centers that help students. To this day, I’m working hard to not let anything interfere with or set a barrier between me and my dreams. This year, I could say has been one of the hardest years of my life, and one of the reasons why is due to the COVID pandemic, which has affected not only me but many others and affected my learning in and outside of school since many community centers were closed. So starting this year with all the struggles in school, I have a baby sister that got pretty sick, and she and my mom stayed at the hospital for a while. During that time, I was not able to work because I’m the oldest daughter at home and I have little siblings to take care of while my mom is at the hospital. This situation affected me mentally because I was having a hard time at school, not being able to work so I could get a tutor, and my family's situation just made me feel even worse. But when I started receiving this gift of $150 monthly, I was and am still so thankful and grateful for this gift, even if it doesn't seem like a lot to some. With this money, I was able to request a tutor that would help me with lessons like physics and calculus, which I was struggling with the most. Thankfully, things at school started to make sense, and slowly I was able to do lessons on my own. During that time, my sister started feeling better, and she and my mom were able to come back home, which gave me more time to focus on my schoolwork. Now, with great pride, I can say, "I did it!" I have been accepted into the health science program at Ottawa University and the computer engineering program at Carleton University. This upcoming fall of 2023, I will be attending Carleton University to pursue my studies in computer engineering. None of these achievements would have been possible without the indispensable support of the HOST program. Once again, I express my deepest gratitude to you, Mr. Lussier, and the entire HOST program for believing in me and providing the means for me to overcome financial obstacles. Your generosity has made a lasting impact on my life, and I am committed to seizing this opportunity to fulfill my potential and make a positive contribution to society. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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I was a recipient of the help our students program. When I had first received the news that I had been given such an opportunity to help my family, I can admit I cried. It was very overwhelming knowing that a lot of the stress which had been placed on me and my mother relating to paying rent or getting food on the table had been relieved. As the video was playing on the screen, I felt frozen in the chair and overwhelmed with emotion. I had to sit down for a while and be thankful of the opportunity I was given. It made me so happy knowing I wasn't the only person who was or had experienced this feeling this year, as many students get this opportunity every year. And it's all thanks to generous donors like you that I was given the opportunity to return home to my mother with some positive news that we wouldn't have to stress over rent this month. It made my entire year and for that all I can say is thank you. I wish there was another way for which I could repay you for such a generous donation. You’re far too kind and I hope this message can give you even the slightest bit of happiness you gave me that day. May God bless your soul. You really are too kind. Thank you, you will forever have my gratitude, I'll never forget this.
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The HOST program was an extremely helpful program that I was grateful to be a part of. It allowed me to buy a lunch during the day at school when I needed it or purchase groceries that were needed at home. It let me focus more on school and gave me a way to receive money without the workload of a job. This additional time also gave me a chance to contribute more to my household and build a strong work ethic helping with cleaning and by cooking my family dinner. I also feel the added free time that this program gave me helped me to be more social and engage more in school activities which I found difficult to do in previous years. These school activities allow me to meet my active lifestyle in a way that can push my boundaries with the help of peers. I am thankful to Richard Lussier and the generous donations of all involved for providing me with this opportunity.
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Hello good afternoon! I wanted to write this letter regarding my experience with the bursary program! The bursary has helped me tremendously with my budgeting and an extra means of income every month. As a young girl living alone, that extra boost of income really inspires me and gives me motivation to keep going. It’s hard sometimes living alone, sometimes I feel like an outsider being around people my own age since their lives can be so different from mine. I work and support myself through school every day, and this year is hopefully my last in high school. I have done my best this year to push through almost 10+ credits that I was missing to graduate. Every time I got that monthly income, it felt like I was being rewarded for all my sleepless nights, exhaustion, and frustration. I truly appreciate all the help I’ve received from this program! Thank you so much.
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The HOST program has greatly helped not only me, however my family as well. The money generously awarded to me every month has gone towards a variety of things regarding myself and my family. It has helped my family by helping to pay for groceries for me, my mom, and my 2 younger brothers. It has also helped me directly by helping pay for my personal needs, like assisting to pay for my public transport pass for school and an electronic device for school. In addition, it has allowed me to play competitive football in a girl’s league, which was not previously even considered as I would have had to dig into my personal savings for post-secondary education to pay for it. Lastly, the remaining money has been put into savings for my post-secondary education.
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I just want to say thank you so much again. The money is going to be used for back up as money is hard and tight, which is hard for my family. I appreciate you and my family does too because you gave me a chance that they couldn’t. I will be the first person to go to college in my family in years and years. I just found out but this money has made me closer to my grandfather who died of cancer 2 days before my birth He went to Algonquin a long long time ago and I didn’t know that but now I am about to go to the same college he once went to which means the world to me! I just hope I can stay there at Algonquin and get a diploma or a certificate. I am going into Development Service Worker because I want to help, I want to do more. I wish I could help everyone because I know everyone needs it even the people that make the most money still need help and I want to be the person that can do that for them you know? That’s how I feel. I don’t know, my apologies, this went off the path of thank you but thank you so very much!
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Je remercie le programme Aidez Nos Élèves 2022-2023 de m'avoir choisi pour recevoir une bourse de 1 500$. Je suis honoré d'être sélectionné comme élève qui démontre un engagement sérieux envers son programme scolaire et qui possède une bonne éthique de travail. Je suis en effet un élève qui bénéficierait grandement de cet appui financier. Après la graduation, mon cheminement d'éducation sera à l'Université d'Ottawa dans le programme de commercialisation. Avec cette bourse, j'aurais la chance d'avoir un excellent portable Macbook d'Apple. Ce portable est léger et à une technologie très avancée ayant le logiciel nécessaire pour mes études. Cet achat va permettre à ma soeur d'utiliser mon chromebook pour ses études secondaires donc cette bourse ne bénéficie non seulement à moi mais ma soeur et ma famille. Je vous remercie d'avoir été choisi pour ce beau cadeau financier car il sera mon cadeau de graduation.
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I am composing this letter to let you and your program know how much you have helped me. It has helped me out between my paychecks since I am mostly living from paycheck to paycheck and having that little extra boost has helped me through lots of tough time and bumpy rides. It also helped me attend school more often. The money has gone to either my groceries, helped me pay my rent, helped me buy things for my two kids and sometimes a little bit of time off to spend with my family or friends. I'd like to sincerely thank you for giving me this opportunity and all of the money you have given to me as I said it has helped me very much these past couple months so again, thank you and thank you for helping so many others like me out of the kindness and love of your heart.
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I hope this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to express my gratitude for the invaluable support I received through the HOST Program (2023) award. It was incredibly impactful and helpful, and I wanted to share how it changed my life. Firstly, the grant taught me financial responsibility. The monthly payments were my first experience with a steady income, so I finally started to recognize the value of money and the importance of planning and saving. With each month's allowance, I have learned to carefully budget, save money for the future, prioritize my needs—and distinguish them from my wants. These skills will follow and help me beyond the 10-month payment period. Moreover, the monthly payments were incredibly beneficial in my personal life. As I was experiencing difficulties this year, I desperately needed resources to help me overcome the issues present in my daily life. Luckily, with this grant, I was able to afford much-needed help. The resources I paid for have and continue to change my life and will undoubtedly assist me in the long run. Furthermore, during the school year, I did not get a job and, instead, gave all my attention to school. Before learning that I had qualified for the grant, my initial plan was to work to support myself throughout the year. However, thanks to the HOST Program, I was able to keep my focus on school, thus getting better grades and feeling less stress and pressure. It was helpful education-wise, and my report card reflects that. Finally, the HOST Program allowed me to pay for lifestyle necessities that I had previously been unable to afford. Certain expenses, such as phone bills and bus passes, require monthly payments, therefore requiring a steady income to ensure the consistency of your payments. However, I always needed more pay to buy these things, as I did not have an income. Fortunately, the grant improved my life by giving me access to the necessary resources. Knowing that somebody took care of these essential aspects of my life alleviated stress and allowed me to pursue my academic and personal goals. In closing, I express my deepest gratitude once again to the Help Our Students Program. Your generosity and belief in me have improved my immediate circumstances and instilled new life skills and resilience in me. The HOST Program award has been a life-changing experience, and I will forever carry the lessons and blessings it has allowed me to discover. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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The host program this year really helped me. This year was crazy so many twists happened to me family wise or finances. Like last year, I used the host program money for school and non-school reasons. The award impacted my life greatly this year because my mom was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, which shocked the family. Nothing was going as I wanted. I was trying but later in the year, I lost motivation. In all honesty, I wasn't thinking about the host program even though the money came in and I was just burnt out. At the Grad retreat that Mr. Richard Lussier’s speech I felt a splash in the face. A huge fire ignited. I was focused at that moment like the spirit was there. I realized what I had was an opportunity. It gave me a chance to thank these past few weeks I've been putting in the work. My motivation to get through this last month. That's why I'm very thankful for the program during my last year. Thank you, Mr. Richard Lussier. God bless.
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Thank you so much. Thank you Richard Lussier for this blessing of $1500. The past few years have been rough in my family especially this year. When I found out I was getting this I was full of gratitude. Thank you so much for helping me with my Christmas shopping and taking the weight of my parents shoulders. This blessing has helped me give gifts and money to my loved ones and my church and has helped me pay for sports and school. This was the first time in my life where I felt like I did not need to give up anything to buy the things that I need and it felt really great being able to provide things for my loved ones. God bless you.
I don't know what you believe in but I want to let you know that Jesus loves you and is really happy with what you are doing. I hope you are happy with where you are physically and mentally. God bless you as you go in your journey. One last thing I want to say is thank you again. I will never forget this act of kindness. I will try my best to donate to this program in the near future.
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When I was first introduced to this program, I was struggling financially. At this point I still am struggling, but I have something to lean back in when I need it the most. My family is relying on a single person's income and we live in a household with 6 people. Our house had burned down in May 2022 and we were left with nothing. My father owns a business but it is not going well and we are making no income off of it. And we are relying on insurance, and my mother's job to help keep us afloat. So as it is my last year of high school I wanted to focus on school, so I did not get a job making it very hard to get things like: lunch, clothes, school supplies. This program allowed me to not worry about those, and it gave me some freedom to not have to worry about the small things. This program has given me the chance to breath, and not be as stressed out, and it has helped make my last year in high school a memorable one. Thank you for changing my life for the better.
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To put it plainly, The HOST program meant everything to me. This award was the difference between just another year of high school and the best year of my life. My high school has always offered a wide range of extracurricular activities, sports, field trips, and other opportunities for students to have fun and get involved in the school community. The problem is nothing is free, and most of the time my family just had bigger priorities in terms of expenses, hence I couldn’t participate in most of these. and since my family frequently had more important priorities in terms of expenses, I was unable to participate in the majority of these. This year, I was more involved in school activities than ever before because of this award. For instance, I was able to play football without worrying about equipment fees, I got to go to Wonderland in Toronto with my team, as well as Sudbury. Being in my final year, I was able to pay for graduation, the grad retreat, prom, the athletic banquet, and much more, so I'm especially grateful that I received this award this year. All of these activities and occasions helped to make my senior year of high school a truly memorable one. I made friends I never would have otherwise made and had opportunities to experience things I never would have had anywhere else. For all of these things, I am incredibly appreciative of this award.
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Je vous écris cette lettre afin de vous remercier pour la généreuse bourse ANET que j’ai reçu cette année. L’argent m’a aidé parce que je me suis acheté des choses dont j’avais besoin et j’ai pu en partager une partie avec ma famille qui en a grandement besoin. L’argent m’a aussi motivé à aller à l’école et étudier plus. Puisque je devais me rendre à l’école pour avoir la bourse, j'ai pu assister à la majorité de mes cours, ce qui veut dire que j’ai mieux appris et j’ai mieux réussi mes cours. Encore une fois, merci du fond de mon cœur pour votre générosité. Elle a vraiment contribué à mon bonheur cette année.
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It was an honor to be the receiver of such an award. I cannot find the words to express the immense help your program has provided not only for me but also for my family. Some of the money I have received went towards house payments such as rent, water, electricity, and more. I was also able to use this money for school payments such as the Grad and Prom Fee. This award also gave me the opportunity for me to pay to take the A.P. Biology exam, to hopefully advance and further my success. I used some of the money to buy some birthday gifts for my family. Thank you for everything!
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I have used the money in many ways either to help others or for my own use. But it really has helped me appreciate how much you have because it can all go quick. I am also able to buy things that helped me with sports and just my living situation as in I also helped my mom with groceries. I am really appreciative about all the money I am getting because it's amazing to be able to have a slow income and it really shows me what the real world is like. Because not everything is as cheap as you want it. But it made me realize my wants aren't as important as my needs. I really appreciate the money you are giving me. Thank you very much for this opportunity.
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Je voudrais commencer cette lettre en vous remerciant pour votre générosité. Je suis très honorée d’avoir reçue la bourse de cette année.
Le prix a un grand impact sur moi. Pour poursuivre, je voudrais souligner que recevoir cette bourse m’a apaisée et m’a enlevée un grand poids de mes épaules. Par le temps où j’avais reçu cette bourse, j’étais très préoccupée par mes études post-secondaires et je m’inquiétais grandement à ce sujet. De plus, je savais que le coût des programmes offerts chez les universités et les collèges n’était pas à bas prix et que je n’avais les moyens nécessaires pour ce qui était à venir. J’étais angoissée et je n’arrêtais pas de me questionner au sujet de mon futur. Mais aussitôt que ma conseillère scolaire m’a annoncée que j’avais reçu une bourse, j’étais époustouflée et je n’arrivais pas à croire ce qu’elle me disait. Avec la bourse que j’ai obtenue grâce à vous, je me sens prête pour mes études post-secondaires et surmonter les obstacles que je pourrais éventuellement rencontrer lors de mes études et de ma vie future.
De plus, le prix a aussi eu un impact sur ma famille. Mes parents savaient que plus je grandissais, plus je m’approchais de cette étape de la vie qui s’avérait plutôt coûteuse. Ils ne savaient pas comment ils allaient faire pour payer mes études. En outre, cela leur donnait un stress supplémentaire parmi toutes les responsabilités qu’ils ont déjà en tant que parents et qu’adultes. Pour ajouter, je ne voulais pas laisser mes parents tout payer mes frais de scolarité; je voulais avoir une part dans tout ça puisque ce sont mes études. Tout comme moi, mes parents étaient heureux que j’aille reçue cette bourse. Nous étions tous soulagés.
Pour finir, toute ma vie, j’ai pris mon éducation au sérieux et j’ai toujours donnée mon 100%. Rendu à cette étape de la vie, je remarque à quel point nos efforts nous portent fruits.
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The HOST program has helped me in so many amazing ways. It helped me and my family put extra food in the house when we needed it. I also helped pay for the bills as best I could. The HOST program also let me spend money on things I wanted and could never get before. This program also helped me with big steps in my life like saving up for college next year!! That I could never forget. The HOST program also helped me to learn how to save money and not spend it all at once. My family and I are very thankful that the HOST program chose to help us this year. We really appreciate and are very grateful for it and will never forget how helpful this program is. This is such an amazing program.
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I want to give a big thanks to the donors and organizers of the HOST program. I feel honored to be chosen as a recipient. Being a recipient for this award helped me in a multitude of ways. It helped me to support myself financially while I completed my school year. On top of working, the money helped me to save money which I will be using towards when I go to college. It helped me in small ways like being able to afford to get a coffee before school. I was also able to buy a new pair of running shoes and some new clothes that I needed. Once again, thank you so much. This is a fantastic program and I am so happy I was able to be a part of it.
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I am writing this letter to express my deepest appreciation for your incredible support as a donor to the HOST Program. As someone who has faced numerous struggles, your generosity has made an immeasurable impact on my life, and I am truly grateful for the opportunities it has provided me. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude for your belief in my potential and your dedication to supporting individuals like me. Your generosity and care has opened doors, empowered me to overcome obstacles, supporting me financially and given me hope for a brighter future. I am truly grateful for the difference you have made in my life. I was able to allocate the donation towards crucial areas of my life. I used the funds to pay my phone bill to stay connected for important communication, the HOST program helping cover some college expenses, and provide much-needed support to my mom. Thank you for being a catalyst for positive change and for showing me that with the support of a caring community, anything is possible. Your continued support and donations will undoubtedly transform the lives of many others, just as it has transformed mine.
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Dear Mr. Lussier, I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to express my deepest gratitude for the incredible generosity and support you have extended to me during a time of financial need. Your assistance has made an indescribable impact on my life, and I am truly thankful for your selflessness.
Words cannot adequately convey the extent of my appreciation for your willingness to lend a helping hand when I needed it the most. The kindness and compassion you have shown me have not only relieved the burdens of my financial difficulties. Your actions have proven that there are still remarkable individuals like you who are ready to make a difference in the lives of others.
Your financial contribution has helped me with paying rent and some medical costs as well. As we are a big family, it really helped us a lot because we have many costs associated with everyday living.
Once again, I cannot express my gratitude enough for your support and generosity. Your kindness has made a big impact on my life. Please know that I am always here if you ever need any assistance or if there is anything I can do to repay your kindness.
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I was very honored to be picked for the Host Program. It really showed me that there were people who appreciated my hard work and working hard gets you rewarded. I didn’t even know the Host Program was a thing and when I was picked, I was shocked and thankful that a group of staff from my school thought that I deserved it. Because of financial difficulties, I didn’t like spending money on myself so I wouldn’t stress my parents. I never had an allowance or a job, so it was my first time getting money that I was getting regularly that I could use. I could use my money for things I wanted or needed and could take a small burden off my parent’s shoulders by using the money for myself. Getting money from the Host program encouraged me to get a job, because I realized I could also show my potential at work and earn money even at 15 (16 now). Even as I started earning money at my job, I always felt an extra boost of pride and gratitude when I received money every month. Thank you for helping me and others with this program!
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I am writing this letter to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation. I am a grade 12 student. I am grateful for the financial assistance provided by the HOST program, which helped me pursue my education without worrying about financial problems. It gave me the motivation to work harder and follow my dreams. The funds provided by the program also helped my struggling family with bills and expenses. I am grateful for this program's impact on my life, and I hope to repay this generosity by helping others who are struggling. This money made a significant impact on our lives and I truly thank the program a million times. I might never know the people who have helped me through this program, but I’m sure that their impact on my life will make a difference. Once again, these words can only express part of my gratitude, but I will always be thankful.
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I am writing to you to express my appreciation for being selected to receive the HELP OUR STUDENTS PROGRAM. Thank you for your generosity, as it has allowed me to put enough time into studying harder than working. Your generosity has helped reawaken a dream I thought would not come to fruition due to my family’s difficult financial situation. It has also brought back hope for my academic future. I am excited about starting my academic studies at Carleton University. I hope to start a private practice that will make it easy for newcomers to study more in prosperity one day. I promise to work hard to achieve my academic goals. I once again want to express my sincere gratitude. I hope that one day I will give back by helping other students so that they too may reach their educational goals.
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I am 16 turning 17 at the moment of writing this letter. I was born and raised in Nigeria and live with a family of 7. I have 2 sisters and 2 brothers who I love very much, and I wish to make them proud by doing well and becoming successful. The Help Our Students program is a blessing for me not only because of the money but also because of the inspiration it gave me to do better in my studies. The Idea that there are people who care about students like me and the others who are part of this program is encouraging and it shows that there are good people all around us who really want to see the future generations succeed. It makes me want to strive to be better and work harder, to really take advantage of the opportunities given to me and be the best I can be. I may never know everyone who is involved in this program or get to meet them but I give all my love and thanks to the wonderful people who are involved. The money I was given has been put into a savings account that will help me after graduation. Although I don’t have a solid plan for post-secondary as of now, I know that what the program has done for me will help tremendously in my future and I will never forget the help given to me by such wonderful people.
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I grew up in a very religious household with very strict parents. When I decided to leave the religion, my parents kicked me out at the age of 16 and my entire family cut me off. My attendance at school suffered because I was working a lot as I was now paying for everything myself, including rent every month. Receiving the money from the HOST program gave me the motivation to attend and finish high school and the possibility of attending college right after I graduate instead of taking a gap year to save up. This money is paying for some of my tuition which will allow me to be able to afford living on my own on top of paying for my education. I am very grateful that I received this award because it showed me that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that there are people here to support me.
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I am writing to express my heartfelt gratitude for the Student Program Award that l have received from your organization. Your award has been a contribution in helping me save towards my education. The financial support that l have received from your organization has been a great help in helping me save for my college education. This financial assistance has made it possible for me to focus on my studies. The award has also given me a sense of encouragement and motivation to continue my studies. It has provided me with a sense of validation that my hard work and dedication have been recognized and appreciated. Once again, l would like to express my sincere gratitude to your organization for the Students Program Award. It has been a life-changing opportunity for me, and I am grateful for your support and generosity, and I am committed to using my education and skills to make a positive impact in my community and beyond.
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I am a 12th grader. My plans in the future after high school is to become a registered nurse, then specialize in the operation room or in the emergency room. For starters, I would like just to take the time to say thank you for this opportunity you gave me. Personally, this helped me so much in so many ways. To begin, with this money, this gave me the chance to pay the letter of recommendation to the university and colleges that interested me. This payment gave a letter to the University of Ottawa for the program of a Registered Nurse in French and English, also the second one was for Algonquin for a registered nurse and a Practical registered nurse then finally, paid for La Cité as a registered nurse. At the end, I accepted the program at La Cité as a registered nurse. To add, I plan to use the remaining money to help get items necessary for college. Thank you for this opportunity you gave me.
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Votre bourse a été l'un des événements marquants de ma 12e année. Tout d'abord, je n'avais aucune connaissance de cette bourse avant qu'on me la présente. Pour ajouter que je ne savais qu'on pouvait avoir une bourse sans avoir fait de demande d'application. Donc, quand j'ai été choisie pour pouvoir bénéficier de cette récompense j'étais surprise. Durant mon année scolaire votre programme m'a été d'une aide colossale. Surtout du côté matériel et émotionnel. Premièrement, cette bourse a été mon premier vrai dépôt mensuel, ceci me permettait d'apprendre comment gérer mon compte bancaire et être responsable. La bourse me donnait une sorte de fierté. C'était une récompense extrinsèque qui m'attendait à chaque premier du mois. En effet, elle me permettait de persévérer à l'école et faire des efforts. Une autre façon dont cette bourse m'a été d'une grande utilité c'est que je pouvais acheter des choses dont j'avais besoin ou que je désirais. Par exemple, j'ai pu acheter mon annuaire que mon école offre à tous les 12e ainsi que les sweatshirt à capuche. En conclusion, je suis très reconnaissante d'avoir eu l'opportunité de vivre ma dernière année du secondaire avec motivation et facilité grâce à la bourse Aidez nos Élèves.
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3 The help our student award was granted to me in October of 2022. I had no idea what this award was and was greatly confused. It was explained to me why I had been granted this award. I was recognized for working hard my entire high school career and persevering through any hard times. At the time I was having difficulty choosing a university. I didn't have funds set aside for my post-secondary education. I wanted to go to university but was unsure of how to finance my journey. When I was granted this, I took it as a sign from the universe that I needed to go to university and this was to be put towards it. I fully believe it was due to the help of this award that I was pushed to apply and eventually be accepted into university. I have not spent any of the money yet as I feel that if I were to spend it now I would not use it towards post-secondary. But I do have a plan, with the money I intend to purchase school supplies and textbooks for my first year starting in September. I will be going into my dream program of History and hopefully become a professor.
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Selon moi, le programme m’a aidé dans multiples façons. Par exemple, j’avais parfois pas assez d’argent pour avoir un bon lunch à l’école, et je me souviendrais de votre argent, et je pourrais enfin avoir un lunch nutritif. En plus, je pourrais avoir plus de vêtements beaux pour porter à l’école avec l’aide de l’argent chaque mois. Finalement, cet argent m’aide à sauver l’argent dans mon compte de banque d’épargne, qui peut en sorte faire que je peux avoir plus d’argent pour le post-secondaire. En conclusion, l’argent donné par le program m’aide à avoir un meilleur lunch, des meilleurs vêtements à l’école, et m’aide à sauver l’argent durant mon année scolaire pour être capable d’aider avec le post-secondaire.
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En septembre 2022, après des années de rendez-vous et d'examens, j’ai été diagnostiqué avec la maladie de Crohns. J’ai dû me retirer des classes en personne et quitter mon emploi puisque les médicaments qu’elles m’ont prescrits m’ont rendu immunodéprimée. Pour ma santé et sécurité, je devais pratiquement mettre ma vie sur pause. Je me sentais coincé physiquement, mentalement et malheureusement financièrement.
Je ne peux pas décrire la joie que j’ai ressentie lorsque ma conseillère scolaire m’a révélé que j’ai été sélectionnée pour recevoir la bourse généreuse de votre programme. Une pression c’est enlever de mes épaules puisqu’avant ce moment. Il est difficile de me débarrasser de ce sentiment persistant de culpabilité de ne rien faire à cause de ma condition, mais grâce à votre bourse je ne me sens plus figée sur place, en train de regarder mes camarades de classe se préparer pour le futur sans moi. Je suis couramment en train de sauver l’argent pour m’assurer que tout ira à mes études lorsque je serai mieux. Cette bourse a non seulement été un outil financier, mais aussi une source de motivation pour ne pas céder à la maladie.
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The award money from the Help Our Students Program helped me afford groceries and utilities. When I found out I would be getting this helped I was so relieved, an ex-roommate had overstayed by a month and I ended up having to pay that month of rent for her after she moved out. My girlfriend’s mom died of lung cancer in November and so the money from the HOST program really helped us not have to worry as much about money in a difficult and confusing time. I feel really lucky, and I appreciate the award a lot. My girlfriend was also unexpectedly evicted from her childhood home this month. It has come in handy every month and I genuinely don't know what I would have done without it.
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The Help Our Students Program has allowed me to be able to prioritize my mental health which in turn helped my grades. Instead of taking up more work shifts during the week, I was able to focus on having a few days to relax and work on my studies. With the extra money, I was able to help pay for my health expenses (therapy, etc.) so that my mom doesn’t have to. Furthermore, I put all the money I had left into my savings for the university and the things I will need when I start university (a car, a computer, a printer, etc.). I am extremely grateful to all the donors of the Help Our Students Program for their generosity, as this was able to alleviate some of the stress I am under.
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I
wasn't doing very good in school, at least
that's how I felt. My grades were "okay," as I would--and somewhat
still do--describe them. I wasn't expecting my counsellor to call me down in
the middle of the day without an appointment to tell me I'd won a $1,500 award. I
watched the video as it was shown to me, mostly tuning my surroundings out, a
kind of blur around my vision, thinking about the reason that I was provided
with this. I had no idea how I would use the money, but I knew it needed to be
something important. I still haven't
used it, as of the time I'm writing this. But I have an idea. I'm going to put
this money towards getting my driver's license to be able to reliably get to
and from work.
Thank you so much for this award. I can't begin to explain how much this is
going to help me build my future. I started from a neutral point, went lower
and lower as time went on, and at my lowest point, financially, mentally,
physically, and in every way, I get a very generous award out of nowhere.
You have helped me brighten my future, and given me an excellent opportunity to
reflect on myself and my future.
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This program helped me out with my debt that I was in, about $200 in debt. So when I got the program it helped me with that and I am super grateful that it did because I was not working at the time so I had no income. It helped me buy food for my family and when my mother needed help. I bought a birthday present for my friend and money for school if I didn't have anything to make at home. Soon I will be buying a computer with the money I have left when I start working in the summer again.
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This program helped me in a few ways I can think of at the top of my head. Finding a job wasn’t too easy with all that’s going on, so these funds were my only source of income for a while. It has helped accomplish a few things. For example, I was able to save up enough money to get a driver’s license. I was able to share the money with loved ones and hopefully impact them in a positive way. These funds not only helped me help others and myself, but they also helped pay important things that were needed. I appreciate this program and the donors. There were no catches, it was sweet and simple from the beginning. I highly recommend this for other students struggling financially. It’s truly a financial aid.
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I was happy that I once again have been given the opportunity to receive these funds. Senior year is known for being expensive and this reward has helped me pay for many things this year such as my prom dress, grad hoodie, and sports. I am grateful to have received this reward. It has made a positive impact on my life. I now also have my own phone bill which is paid for with the help from these funds. Thank you for choosing me as a recipient for this reward.