Cariloop’s Caregiver Scholarship

Love, once a fuzzy ideal, solidified for me the night I cradled my newborn son, Rolland. The world quieted to his soft snores and the sway of my rocking chair. But this fragile sanctuary wouldn't last. Escalating domestic violence by his father shattered our peace. Rose colored glasses blinded me to the red flags - I dismissed early warning signs. My ex, struggling with mental health issues, lost his job. Hoping to ease his burden, I agreed he could stay home with Rolland while I worked. This decision, made with optimism, morphed into a dangerous gamble. The abuse crept in subtly, disguised as stress. Questioning my sanity, I searched online to see what behavior others deemed ‘normal’ during paternal postpartum. Accepting my developing reality felt insurmountable. One harrowing morning, Rolland's cries pierced my exhaustion. Rushing to the nursery, a scene branded itself into my memory: my partner towering over our terrified infant, both faces contorted – one with rage, the other with terror. The man I knew vanished, replaced by a stranger capable of unimaginable cruelty. Instinct took over. I snatched Rolland, ordered his father out, and called the police. I filed for a protection order and began divorce proceedings. I lost my job due to an inability to find childcare quickly enough. Fear became my constant companion and I hid myself as well as my young son away in my single bedroom apartment. I felt paralyzed. Once vibrant, I shut down and began focusing solely on day-to-day survival. This isolation continued until eviction forced me into a women's shelter. There, a stark realization hit: the inaction I had chosen to protect Rolland and I had itself become dangerous. I started reaching out to individuals who had made positive impacts on my life. A lifeline emerged through an old friend I met at college years ago. He offered support, accommodation, and most importantly, perspective. With renewed hope, I moved our few things into his spare room. I found childcare and began working odd jobs. Upon his advice, I re-enrolled in college. This experience exposed the power of my community. Abusers often wield isolation as a weapon, distorting reality into whatever they dictate. If you have nobody else, escape feels impossible. I vowed to never again allow myself or Rolland to be trapped in such a suffocating and dangerous situation. My friends and family are a lifeline that I will continue to fiercely guard and deeply appreciate. As a single mother, I'm devoted to being a positive role model for my son. My ultimate goal is to form partnerships with nonprofit organizations and government agencies with the aim of establishing and implementing effective support systems for vulnerable communities. For now, I conscientiously exemplify public service to him by continuing to lead a community-based initiative to assemble and distribute packages to the homeless on Thanksgiving every year. By involving individuals from various backgrounds, including those without financial means, I foster a sense of connectedness and shared responsibility for the people around us. Attending college while I am a single parent is one of the most challenging paths I could walk. Yet, the love I have for my son and the unwavering support of my community fuel my determination. I am committed to breaking the cycle of domestic violence and empowering others to do the same. Through my education, I aspire to create a world where more women and children have access to the support they need to stop surviving, and begin to thrive.

As a single mom raising two wonderful kids, life's journey has certainly thrown its share of challenges my way. My eldest, a 22-year-old, is carving her path through college while working, while my youngest, a spirited 5-year-old with autism, fills my days with endless joy and unique adventures. They are my world, my reason for pushing forward each day. 2021 marked a profound loss for me. My beloved mother, my rock and confidante, passed away due to complications from COVID-19. Her absence left a void in my heart and life that's indescribable. With her gone, I've had to navigate through life's uncertainties, striving to make decisions that will shape a brighter future for my children and me. Balancing a full-time job along with part-time online schooling isn't easy, but I draw strength from my mother's resilience. She worked tirelessly, holding down three jobs to support us, showing me the power of perseverance and determination. Inspired by her example, I have taken the leap and enrolled in school, thanks to some nudging from my supportive boss. It's been a transformative decision, one that's opened doors to new possibilities. My biggest reason for returning to school is because I am faced with financial challenges as a single mother, and a son with autism. He is unable to communicate and so I need to be able to provide him with care, and due to financial strains, I dont have the means to do so. Even with insurance and receiving child support, it is not enough. In the summer, the school that my son attends takes three breaks, which means I am paying for daycare when he is on break from school and then paying for after school care when he is in school. Though I don't have a career yet, I'm determined to change that. Before I turned 43, I embarked on a journey of self-discovery, realizing my passion for data analysis. It's never too late to pursue your dreams, right? Currently, I'm enrolled in the Business Office Administrative Assistant Certificate program at San Jacinto College, but with each class, I find myself hungry for more knowledge. Who would've thought I'd be eyeing a bachelor's degree now? With each step forward, I'm laying the groundwork for a better tomorrow. I've been soaking up free courses on data analytics, fueling my ambition to carve out a career I truly love. My goal is simple: to find a fulfilling career that not only provides financial stability but also allows me to be the best mother I can be.

When I enrolled at Savannah State University's computer science degree program in 2020, it devastated me that I would have to withdraw that year. I didn't realize that I'd soon be balancing my academic work with the responsibilities of caring for my ailing grandmother. My grandmother had been living with dementia, breast cancer, and Alzheimer's disease for a while, but her condition would take a turn for the worse right around the time I attempted to re-enter my degree program. In the beginning, I looked on as my mother upended her life to take on the role of primary caregiver and risked burning out. I could only watch her do so much before I was concerned about her health. I decided to pitch in, splitting caregiving responsibilities with my mom. I took on bathing, feeding. administering medication, and making sure my grandmother got fresh air. Additionally, I assisted my mother with meal planning for the week to alleviate decision fatigue throughout the busy week. I make 21 meals on a Sunday night, and head to work my full time job the next morning, and set breakfast on the table prior to heading out. Cooking took 3-4 hours sometimes, and was very exhausting. The same things I would do for myself every day, are the same things I would do for grandma. I lived in the same building as my grandmother, through a separate apartment, which helped with handling the caregiver tasks. Nonetheless, the tasks started to impact my academic life. The responsibilities sometimes overwhelmed me, and I turned to my professors to request extra flexibility on deadlines or makeup assignments for missed work. I also started meeting with a counselor at Savannah State for mental health support. This gave me a moment to just process everything that was going on. You don't realize you need therapy until you're in it. I felt like an atypical student, because I could not relate to anyone while at school, most older people where taking care of their children, but it's quite different when taking care of an adult, in some ways. On one head I felt guilty from being away from home, and on the other hand I didn't know when to take a break, and caregiver burnout became my reality. On the nights I could sleep for a healthy amount of hours, I slept well knowing that I was caring for my loved one, and hoped that her condition would improve day by day. Some days were easier than others, and it was just awful to see the gradual decline, especially when I could not manage to keep up on my own health. Despite such, I knew I must be strong in order to give the best care to my family. I decided to start dedicating small pockets of time too myself each day, to just reset, and to improve my health. Walking 30 mins a day and journaling did wonders for me. Connecting with caregiver support groups within my community, helped me feel as if I wasn't alone. Caregiving has profoundly shaped my identify, instilling in me a deepened sense of empathy, resilience, and responsibility. I have learned the value of patience and adaptability, of which will be valuable in my future career. My experience has steered me to focus on a career that aligns with a passion for service. My role as a caregiver has fostered a sense of purpose, guiding me toward a path where I can make a meaningful impact on people's lives. We all have a story to share, and this is my story:).

When I had my first son, I put college on hold to find a closer full-time job. I put him as my priority, which I will never regret. Just two years later, I became pregnant with my daughter. I enrolled in school again, hoping to have her during a break and pick up with school where I left off. However, my uncle, the only male model in my entire life, was diagnosed with terminal cancer and was given only a few months to live. I put school on hold so that I could be his primary caregiver. I slept on the floor of his bedroom, 24 weeks pregnant, and set my alarm for every two hours so I could wake up and give him his pain medication to keep him comfortable in his last weeks. I also didn't want him to be alone, ever. I never slept anywhere but in that room, on his floor, beside his bed. I also left my job so that I could dedicate my days with him. I cared for his chest tube, medication, dressings, we had no need for home health. I pronounced him deceased at 9:40pm. A part of me was gone. I still had my young son to care for, and I was nearing the end of my pregnancy so I needed to bounce back. After my daughter was born, I decided to become an EMT. It was extremely hard taking classes twice a week with two children. I persisted and passed at the top of my class. I could start my journey caring for many people. I had two more children by 2019, and it was time to become a paramedic. I had changed my goals so that I was able to provide more advanced care for my patients, like when I administered my uncle's pain medication to make him comfortable. Being able to provide pain relief and comfort was a positive part about becoming a paramedic, because EMT's can't do that. Along my journey I became more compassionate, especially to children, the elderly, and those with cancer. When I got cancer in 2020, my journey changed just a little bit more. Because of that experience, I understood what it was like to be a cancer patient, which allowed me to be able to relate to many of my patients better. My goal became to make sure people know they aren't alone if they call upon me for help. Caring for others and making sure no one is alone or in pain changed my identity.

My caregiving experience has been a defining part of my life, impacting my goals, journey, and identity. As a mother to three boys three, including one with autism and OCD, and a two-month-old foster child with cystic fibrosis and hearing loss, my life has been challenging but rewarding. Caring for my sons has taught me valuable compassion, patience, and advocacy lessons. My journey as a caregiver began when my first son was diagnosed with autism and OCD. He required extensive speech therapy, ABA, occupational therapy, and food therapy sessions. As a mother, I had to become an advocate for him to get the services he needed to thrive. This experience taught me how to navigate the healthcare system and advocate for my son's rights. Recently, my family fostered a two-month-old boy who was abandoned and left in a Safe-haven hospital in Georgia. He has cystic fibrosis and hearing loss, and we have had to advocate to get him therapies at a young age to prevent developmental delays. As a caregiver, I have learned the importance of supporting children who cannot speak for themselves. Outside of caring for my children, I am also a full-time nursing student and working full-time. Juggling multiple responsibilities can be challenging, but I am determined to impact my community positively. For example, I am working on changing laws to make establishing healthcare facilities in underserved areas easier. I am also suing the government to stop local facilities from restricting trade for new healthcare facilities that want to open. As a nurse, I plan to use my advocacy skills to make positive changes in the healthcare industry. Despite the challenges of being a caregiver, I am excited about the opportunities to improve access to healthcare for women in Georgia and beyond. My primary goal is to open birth centers across the state, starting with Augusta, to ensure every woman has access to safe and reliable healthcare. Additionally, as the executive director of a nonprofit organization promoting healthcare for young women, I hope to empower them to take control of their health and well-being. Being a caregiver has impacted my goals, journey, and identity in many ways. It has taught me the importance of patience, compassion, and advocacy. It has also inspired me to pursue a nursing career to impact the healthcare industry positively. Despite the challenges, I am determined to make a difference in my children's lives and countless patients and their families.

300lbs. That was what I had to lift daily, just get my father out and in to bed every sinle day without any help or break in between. Growing up, my father's car accident and subsequent paralysis changed my life forever. Taking care of my father became a full-time job for my siblings and me. Every day before school, my older sister and I would take care of my father, bathing him and feeding him, and then again after school. This experience forced me to grow up quickly and become responsible at a young age. I had very little time for typical teenage activities or hobbies, like playing intramural sports. Despite the difficulties, this experience taught me the value of hard work and dedication, and the importance of putting others before myself. It has also shaped my personal goals and journey, as I have become more determined to make a positive impact in the lives of others. This caregiving experience has become a part of my identity, and I am proud of the strength and resilience I have developed as a result. One of the most valuable lessons I learned from this experience is the importance of compassion and empathy. Taking care of my father gave me a deeper understanding of what it means to be a caretaker and to put others' needs before my own. This experience has also taught me to appreciate the little things in life, like a smile or a kind word, and to never take anything for granted. In addition to personal growth, this experience has also had a significant impact on my academic and professional goals. I am more driven to pursue a career that allows me to make a positive impact on the lives of others, whether it is in the healthcare field or another related field. I want to use my own experience to help others and to make a difference in the world. Overall, my caregiving experience has been challenging, but it has also been one of the most meaningful and formative experiences of my life. It has shaped my personal goals, journey, and identity, and I am grateful for the lessons and values it has taught me. I believe that this experience will continue to shape me as I navigate my future and I am confident that it will serve as a source of inspiration and motivation as I work towards achieving my goals.