Purple Dream Scholarship

Being a single mother pursuing higher education means mastering the art of impossible schedules. I've written papers during soccer practices, studied for exams while my children slept, and attended virtual classes from hospital waiting rooms during their sick days. Every semester has required careful choreography between childcare, work, and coursework that most traditional students never have to consider. The financial strain has been constant. Choosing between textbooks and groceries, between registration fees and school supplies for my kids, between my future and their immediate needs. There were semesters I had to drop classes because I couldn't afford both tuition and rent. Watching other students focus solely on their studies while I juggled three jobs to keep us afloat was both heartbreaking and motivating.But my children have been my greatest teachers throughout this journey. They've watched me struggle with algebra homework at the kitchen table beside them, seen me celebrate small victories like passing a difficult exam, and witnessed my determination when everything felt overwhelming. They learned that education isn't just about grades but about refusing to give up on yourself. My experience as a ward of the state who received minimal guidance shaped my core values around this journey. I knew that breaking generational cycles meant more than just surviving. It meant creating the kind of stable, nurturing environment I never had. Education became my path to ensuring my children would never experience the neglect and lack of support that defined my childhood. Now, watching my daughter start her freshman year and my son continue as a sophomore, I see the direct impact of this sacrifice. They enter college with confidence, understanding their worth, and equipped with tools for healthy relationships that I had to learn through painful trial and error. They have what I fought to give them: a foundation of love, guidance, and unwavering support. My goal to become a sex therapist specializing in young people ages 11-25 grows directly from this experience. I want to be the adult who provides the guidance I lacked, who helps young people understand healthy boundaries and relationships before they have to learn through heartbreak and mistakes. This scholarship represents more than financial relief. It means I can focus on my studies instead of working multiple jobs. It means completing my degree without the constant stress of choosing between my education and my family's basic needs. Most importantly, it brings me closer to creating the practice where I can serve young people who, like me, need someone to believe in them and provide the guidance they deserve. My education will create ripple effects beyond my family. Every young person I help will potentially break their own generational cycles, creating healthier relationships and stronger communities. This scholarship doesn't just change my life – it changes the lives of everyone I'll serve.

My journey as a single mother has been full of challenges, growth, and faith. I was raised by a single mother, so I’ve seen firsthand the strength it takes to carry that responsibility. Still, becoming one myself showed me how heavy it can really be. Balancing school, motherhood, and work hasn’t been easy, but it has shaped me into a stronger, more determined woman. I am an immigrant and refugee from Liberia. Coming to the United States gave me safety and opportunity, but it also came with pressure to succeed in a new world while carrying the weight of starting over. I’m a first-generation college student, and education has always been deeply important to me. Still, as a single mother, reaching that goal has taken longer than I expected. Between childcare, financial struggles, and trying to provide stability for my child, I’ve had to pause and restart my education more than once. It has taken nearly ten years to get close to earning my degree, but I’ve never given up. When COVID hit, I had to step away from school, and around that same time, I joined the military, hoping it would bring structure and financial stability. Instead, it added more challenges to balance. Returning to school after those years away wasn’t easy; I had to fight to be readmitted and rebuild my confidence, but I refused to quit. My child has been my biggest reason to keep going. I want her to see that even when life is hard, you don’t give up on your goals. Being a student and a mother at the same time has taught me what resilience really means. There have been nights when I studied after midnight and mornings when I went to class on only a few hours of sleep. There have been times when I didn’t know how I would pay for books or childcare, but I always found a way. Every small step forward is a reminder that progress doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to continue. My goal is to complete my degree in dental hygiene and use it to serve communities like the one I came from—low-income, immigrant, and often overlooked when it comes to healthcare. I want to educate families about oral health and inspire other single mothers to keep pushing toward their dreams. Receiving this scholarship would mean more than financial help; it would be a reminder that my journey matters. It would allow me to focus fully on school, support my child, and continue building the life I’ve worked so hard to create.