Strangers' Donations Help BU Student Stay in School

The crowd-funding site GoFundMe has come up big for a Boston University student in danger of having to drop out, reports Business Insider. As a last resort, sophomore Alexis Felix created a page on the site seeking donations when her family could no longer pay her tuition. She hoped other relatives and friends might get her close to the necessary $5,000 over a matter of months, but it took just 27 hours once former high school classmates, teachers, and total strangers got wind of the story and started chipping in.

"Today you all showed me that there is love in this world and that hard work is never in vain no matter how hopeless a situation seems," she wrote upon reaching the goal. "You all are incredible and I will pay every cent forward ..." What's more, people have continued donating even though the goal has been reached. As of this evening, Felix had raised about $6,500, and she'll put the extra money toward next year's tuition. (More GoFundMe stories.)