TL;DR: I’m raising $150,000 to fund my graduate studies in structural & earthquake engineering — and to support other Womxn of Color entering the field.
🌉 Who I Am
Hi, I’m Brijhette — pronounced like bridge and jet (fitting for a future structural engineer, right?).
Raised in public housing by my great aunt in St. Louis, I was lucky enough to join a gifted program at age 11. That program changed everything — giving me a shot at a top high school and a college education I could never afford on paper.
I became the first in my family to finish high school, college, and now grad school. It took 3 years, 5 jobs, 100+ credit hours, and a whole lot of hustle — but I made it. I worked in corporate America for nearly a decade while taking night classes in math and physics. Now, I’ve finally made it to my dream program in Structural & Earthquake Engineering at UCSD.
But the money? It's real.
💸 What I’m Raising
I'm seeking to raise $150,000 to cover two years of full-time graduate study without burning out or racking up new loans. Your support helps me focus on research — not survival — and gives back to future engineers like me.
💡 Where the Money Goes
|
Tuition (2 yrs) |
$90,000 |
$15K per quarter, 3 quarters per year |
|
Rent (2 yrs) |
$60,000 |
~$2,500/month in San Diego |
|
Food + Supplies |
$13,000 |
$500/month food + $500/year supplies |
|
📚 Total |
$163,000 |
Setting the goal at $150K |
Yes, it’s a big number. But 1,000 people giving $150 gets us the whole way there.
🛠️ Why It Matters
This isn’t just about my education.
It’s about building a world where engineers come from the communities most affected by disaster.
When Womxn of Color lead in this field, we build stronger cities — and stronger systems. I want to help reshape engineering from the inside out — and bring others with me.
That’s why this fund supports:
• my education in structural + seisemic resilience
• other students like me in similar programs
• STEM outreach to K-12 girls from underrepresented backgrounds
🎁 Thank You Gifts
✍🏾 For donations between $25–$999, you'll receive a handwritten thank-you on a 4"x4" building print + quarterly email updates.
🖼️ For donations of $1000+, you'll receive a framed 11"x17" structural or architectural photo from my travels + outreach talk or workshop invitation.
🏢 For company donations of $5000+, you'll receive a custom 24"x36" photo + tailored visit/demo + offer to intern or contribute.
Fun fact: My architectural photography from 30+ countries has been featured on Adobe’s Design Blog.
🫶 How You’ll Stay Involved
— regular updates via email, LinkedIn, and Instagram
— detailed reports on where the funds are going
— photos and stories from classes, research, site visits, and STEM outreach
— behind-the-scenes looks at how architecture, tech, and engineering intersect
🏁 Final Thoughts
Thank you for being here.
This work — this dream — has been 13+ years in the making. And this time, I’m not doing it alone.
With your help, we can build a more resilient world — one where Black and Brown brilliance isn’t an exception in the room, but the foundation of it.
Let’s get to work.
—
Brijhette Farmer
📸 www.bigbookofbuildings.com
💻 www.brijhettefarmer.com
💬 Instagram: @astrohfiziks
💌 Email: brijhette.farmer@gmail.com