Dear Supporter,

If I could go back and talk to my high school self at Paly, I’d give him one piece of advice: "Stop being so afraid to put yourself out there. It never hurts to meet new people and you never know who might become a lifelong friend or even the next CEO."

My name is Jason Or. I graduated from Paly in 2022, and I am currently finishing my degree in Cybersecurity at Purdue University. As I prepare to take my next big step this fall to attend Carnegie Mellon University for my Master’s in Information Security. I’ve been reflecting on the journey that got me here.

At Purdue, the work is brain-wrecking! There have been nights where I didn't even know what I was studying until the very hour a lab was due. But through perseverance, I’ve repeatedly pushed past what I thought was impossible to understand.

I was able to find that perseverance because I wasn't doing it alone. Rise Together Education (RTE) has been the backbone of my success.

Beyond the financial support that helped bridge the gap between my scholarships and the cost of tuition, RTE gave me something I truly needed: mentorship. My mentor, Laura Grant, has been a constant source of guidance. As someone who tends to procrastinate on job searches and tedious tasks, having Laura check in on me regularly made all the difference. She didn't just help me tackle problems in college; she prepared me for life after graduation by sending me job and internship opportunities I otherwise would have missed.

This is the RTE Effect. It turns a student with potential into a professional with a plan.

Today is the last day of this Spring Fundraising Campaign. I am writing to ask you to invest in the next student sitting in a classroom at Paly, wondering if they can handle the "impossible" challenges of a top-tier university.

Your gift to Rise Together Education provides:

• The Guidance: Mentors like Laura Grant who keep students on track when life gets overwhelming.

• The Opportunity: Resources that allow us to focus on brain-wrecking labs instead of how we will afford our next semester.

• The Future: A path for students to return to the Bay Area as leaders in fields like cybersecurity, engineering, and education.

I’m excited to head to Pittsburgh for my Master's, but I know I wouldn't be going there without the foundation RTE helped me build. Please consider making a donation today during the last day of our Annual Spring Fundraiser to help more students like me turn their dreams into degrees.

With gratitude,

Jason Or 

Purdue University, Class of 2026

P.S. Your support helps bridge the gap between "impossible" and "done." Please join us by making a gift at risetogethered.org/donate.