University of Alabama graduate credits Olivia Rodrigo for life-changing tuition support
By Camden Morris
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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — Jamie Causey, a University of Alabama graduate, said she relied on scholarships, grants, and prayers to pursue her education, hoping to make her grandparents and her city proud.
Causey recalled a conversation with her grandmother where she expressed doubts about continuing her studies. “I don’t want to disappoint you, but I don’t know if it’s going to happen,” she said. Her plan was to take time off from college and work.
That plan changed when Grammy-winning singer Olivia Rodrigo sent her a private message offering to pay for her tuition. Initially, Causey thought the message was from a fake account.
“And I don’t know if anybody out there relates, but you get the messages on Facebook and your great-grandmother calls you and goes, ‘Tom Hanks messaged me,’ and you go, ‘No, no he didn’t, Grandma,'” Causey said.
Rodrigo’s generosity played a pivotal role in Causey graduating with a degree in public relations.
“The amount she gave me fully paid for my semester. When I hit pay on that bill page and saw that amount go away, I started to cry because she had changed my life. I knew once I could graduate, my future was set,” Causey said.
Causey said she went from feeling alone to knowing she had an outpouring of support from the community.
“The kindness people showed. People wanted me to do a wish list. I didn’t want people to think I wanted attention; I just wanted to be real,” Causey said.
She added that she is taking a step back from social media but is grateful for the platform it has given her to impact others.
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