Minority Single Mother Scholarship

As a single mother, pursuing my education has been filled with sacrifice, uncertainty, perseverance, and faith. I became a mother to my daughter at the age of 24, and from the moment I learned I was pregnant, I knew I needed to build a stable future for both of us. Although culinary school was not my passion, it was a program I could complete in eighteen months that would provide financial stability. I attended school each morning from 7:00 a.m. until 12:45 p.m., then worked from 2:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Despite the many challenges including pregnancy sickness, childcare struggles, and even a time when I did not have stable housing, I pressed on and kept faith. I eventually completed my Associate’s degree in Occupational Science and secured a decent-paying job. For a while, life felt stable and my daughter was thriving. However, when I became pregnant with my son three years later, I realized my current career was not enough to support two children. I decided to pursue healthcare, which had always interested me. I returned to school and earned my certification as a nurse technician. While I loved the work and caring for people, the pay was still not enough to fully support my growing family. During this time, a friend who worked for General Motors told me they were hiring in Tennessee. The opportunity offered higher pay but required relocating to a state where I had no family or support system. This was the most difficult decision I had ever faced. I applied and three days later I was offered the job. With little time to decide, I took a leap of faith and moved to Tennessee. My friend allowed me to stay with them while I got established. While working at General Motors, I learned the company offered educational assistance for permanent employees. This gave me hope that I could eventually pursue nursing school. I worked long hours for four years hoping to reach that opportunity. Unfortunately, shortly after I became a permanent employee, the company laid us off. During the layoff period, the COVID-19 pandemic began and hospitals faced severe staffing shortages. I decided to become certified as a phlebotomist and accepted a hospital position. Although the starting pay was a large decrease from $23 per hour to $12.50, I accepted the position. Within two months my pay increased to $18.75 due to the demand for healthcare workers. When General Motors later called employees back, I chose to remain at the hospital. That decision became one of the most meaningful steps in my journey. For the past five years I have continued working at the hospital while pursuing my nursing degree. I attend school during the week and work weekends. Along the way I have faced many challenges including housing issues, car troubles, childcare struggles, and the financial strain of supporting my children’s sports and activities. Despite these difficulties, I keep pushing toward my goal. The most fulfilling part of this journey has been working with patients. Sometimes the most meaningful thing I can offer is reassurance and simply listening. Being able to comfort someone and let them know they are not alone reminds me why I chose healthcare. Today, I am two years away from completing my nursing degree. Continuing my education will allow me to expand my ability to care for others while creating greater stability for my family. My goal is to grow professionally but also to show my children the power of perseverance. Through nursing, I hope to uplift my family while making a lasting difference in the lives of others.