A young girl of Indiana and her family drove hours for her first day of college, only to learn she was prevented from enrolling.
Naaya Martinique was overly excited about her new start at Spelman College until she learned that move-in expenses needed to be paid.
“I was just excited to move in and go to college,” the teen told Fox 59.
Martinique and her family drove eight hours from Indianapolis, IN, to Atlanta, GA. Disappointed, the Indiana graduate and her mother visited the college’s financial aid office. The teen couldn’t afford to take out extra loans, so her mother Tjai Downs tried.
However, Downs learned that she had a 10-year-old outstanding balance from when she attended college in 2008. The veteran was unaware of her college debt and said the credit collection agency was still sending it to an old address. Nevertheless, the mother was prevented from taking out a loan that could help out her daughter.
“This is a small thing that happened so many years ago but has reared its ugly head and I think a tweak in my own organization skills would have helped prevent this situation,” noted Downs.
Martinique and her family formed a GoFundMe page to help the teen raise money so she can move into her dorm and begin class.
“I am upset but I am trying to remain positive,” said Martinique.
The family needs the money by August 15.
