Uniball's Skilled Trades Scholarship

Starting over at 46 years old sucks, but as a disabled military veteran, former civil service employee, mother, and after loosing my husband to covid-19 double pneumonia, a widow so I’m up for the challenge! I had no choice but to pivot. I decided not to let grief win by ruining mine and our children’s lives. We have attended a lot of counseling and therapy sessions we have learned the importance of being flexible with the stuff life throws at you and to reflect on the good times that we had with Cranston Sr, while learning what our new normal looked like without him. After reading a lot of books, especially those by Dr. Myles Munroe and finding our purposes, my children and I are thriving! Finding my purpose involved me going back to school to learn and train to become a Master Barber, once finished then take the Georgia State Board Exam to obtain my license, then open my own barbershop in Americus, Georgia. I have always loved anything hair. Coloring, hairstyles, hair cuts, and textures. I also love when clients see their new hairstyle and the look in their eyes when they smile. The smile on their face is everything. I love it! I love helping people look their best, because once they look good, then they feel great, and once a person feels great nothing can stop them from accomplishing their dreams and goals. Purpose fulfilled! I have learned the hard way that life waits for no one. Just because you are experiencing a tragedy in your life, the world does not stop for you. The bills do not stop and say we will wait til you cry your eyes out and get it together then will come back. No! Life will laugh and throw more tomatoes at you! You either lay down and get ran over, get out of the way of those doing the running and watch from the sidelines, or put on your running shoes and get in the race of life. I have chosen the latter! After doing a lot of business research in my area and finding out that there is not one barber or barbershop that specializes in doing mini male manicures, custom hair pieces (partial wigs, topper, or toupee) or cornrow braids I decided that this would be my niche. These are my main skill sets anyway! My barber instructor, Mr. Roberson, says almost everyday in class that he still gets calls from potential clients in Americus asking if he knows someone who can do a razor shave on the head and beard sculpt without cutting up their heads, he says he is not confident in recommending barbershops. Then he lectures to us about the importance of finishing the barbering program and becoming Master Barbers to get those clients. This is going to be my bread and butter once I finish college, but I need your help. It is my reason for applying for this opportunity. Receiving this scholarship award would be a game changer for my children and I. And because I would have a barbershop, I plan to do User Generated Content (UGC) of products, services, and equipment for brands in the Beauty industry. I am learning how to do this now on TikTok. I plan to never have an empty chair. I have learned to use my resources wisely so a client, content, or product will always be in my chair! Thank you so much for spending time with me while I dream! Sherlanda Jackson

I am pursuing welding because I love it. I have specific learning disabilities. School was miserable for me. What came easily for everyone else was extremely difficult for me. That changed when my high school Design and Engineering Academy teacher, Mr. Walker, taught me to weld. Finally, something made sense. Finally, I was the smart one, the talented one, and finally, I was good at something. I could look at the weld I had just done, SEE that I had accomplished something, and be proud. After my trade education, I plan to become certified through the AWS in as many areas as possible. I want to learn as many areas of my career as I can. I have taken Welding 101 and 102 in addition to what I learned in high school. Every time I think I have a direction picked out, I learn something new and consider a new direction. What I know for sure is that my career will be in welding. I can work full-time doing something that makes me incredibly happy and proud. The part where I can provide myself and my son a good life while I do it is an amazing bonus. Not many single parents get the chance to have their dream career. I am incredibly fortunate that not pursuing my dream career is not a sacrifice I feel the need to make as a solo parent. As I mentioned in my profile bio, my previous education experiences were difficult due to my specific learning disabilities. It was not until I entered the shop and learned welding that I found an education setting where I belonged. One out of seven classes is not great odds for success academically, which led to me dropping out. I then entered a relationship that was not a good choice and had my son when I was 18. When my son was four months old, his father was discharged from the military. He refused to treat his medical issues, and the relationship deteriorated to an unsustainable level. One night, he became enraged and attacked me. I was able to get myself and our son to safety. It was clear that I needed a new life plan yesterday. While the court process took place in the state where we were stationed, my son and I moved back to California with my family. I focused on physically and mentally recovering myself and our son. I sought out any resources I could find for medical care, education, etc. When the state illegally denied my son medical benefits, I took the county to a state hearing and got his benefits reinstated. I learned to drive. I got a scholarship through the county library to the online career high school so I could get my high school diploma while I was home with the baby. How did I work through adversity? I worked. I got a little bit done every day. Failure is not an option. If something got in my way, I learned how to take it to the next level or find another way to accomplish what was needed. I studied government agency policies and procedures (I had Google read them to me), asked my mom to help me write letters (she works for a law firm), and contacted the County Board of Supervisors. I overcame adversity by refusing to accept any other result. I plan to approach my career with the same focus. My welding education GPA is 3.5. I appreciate your consideration.

1 - I aspire to pursue welding because it brings me joy and a sense of safety, offering the hope of financial stability. Welding reassures me that I can build a life filled with happiness and create a true home, a space for artistic expression, and a fulfilling career. As a high schooler, I’ve explored MIG welding and learned the basics of metalworking through classes like Metal Fab, Welding/Manufacturing, Metal Design I & II, Advanced Robotics, and SkillsUSA. These experiences inspire me and ignite my passion for a creative and meaningful life in the world of welding. 2 - After completing my education, I see myself exploring various paths, whether in commercial diving, oil rigs, or pipe fitting. While acknowledging that my final choice will come with experience. Alongside my career, I envision engaging in side projects, perhaps creating sculptures or building personal projects at home. The satisfaction I find in crafting sculptures is profound, and I believe it could evolve into a rewarding side gig, full of joy and creativity, even if I struggle to part with my creations 3 - A time in my life, when I was little I grew up homeless in Seattle with my mother, father, and later my younger sister until I was around 5 or 6. This create a giant impact on who I am as I a person and who I could have grown up to be. I remember popping home to home, on busses off busses every day, I remember watching random movies at strangers' homes. New people popping in and out. Then one day my sister and I were left to stay at my grandma's house, she was warm and inviting baked cookies, and watched a Strawberry Shortcake movie, and then I had to go back to my mother's. She never came, later in life I was told that she promised to come pick her children up, but more than 3 times and she never came. Inadvertently I was taken by the state (I am currently unsure if I went through the foster care system, but if I was it was for a short period <6 months) then adopted by my grandpa and grandma. Being only a young child couldn't comprehend why mom would be back, and why I was here. I did what any scared child would have done...fought back, I recall running away, trashing the house, and honestly just not being able to sleep, crying for my mom. Over time I worked through this with a therapist and time, so much time, now being 18, I still think about my mother, I would never hate her for this, I miss her. This honestly motivates me to find a sustaining career, that wouldn't force me to be homeless, and that when/if I were to ever have a family, my children would need to experience this sort of separation. If something were to happen I would have a good fail-safe, I would have the equity to provide and sustain a family. But also given my parent did suffer from mental illness, I would never hold this against them.

1.) I am actively pursuing an associate's degree in welding through my local community college. I decided to pursue this career due to the stability of the field, the overall projected job growth, and the ability to provide for my wife and daughter as (I believe) any man should. I became passionate about welding at a young age, ever since my father showed me how to do some rough stick welding during a repair job on a trailer. I quickly learned that I enjoy building and creating new things that can help other people. I learned that there are many different career paths as a welder including art, fabrication, maintenance, travel welding, nuclear, etc. I even planned on joining the Marine Corps as a welder! Although joining the military as a welder didn't workout, I still wanted to pursue my dream after I ended my military contract. This let me to where I am today. 2.) After I obtain my associate's degree in Welding, I plan on getting as much welding experience as possible by getting a job at one of the veteran-owned fabrication companies in town. Being a military veteran myself, I admire the challenges and adversity that other veterans overcome in order to make successful businesses and I aim to be a part of a team like that. Admittedly, I don't like to plan ahead more than 5 years because like Forest Gump says "Life is like a box of chocolates". However, after I gain some experience as a welder, my wife and I agreed that we would like to take a couple of years and persue travel assignments as a welder in order to help other companies out around the United States. I also have always had an entrepreneurial spirit and dream of opening a business of my own one day as a welding contractor. 3.) I am a firm believer that everything in life (good and bad) happens for a reason. Looking back on my family history, my family has never been goal-oriented or financially responsible and I aim to change that. Dispute being having my father in prison for most of my childhood, and my mother being deceased, I have always aimed to better my life from a young age and I truly think welding can help me get there. Although now that I am a disabled Marine Corps Veteran, my main goal is to become a man that my children would like to emulate and prove to everyone that I will not let any obstacles or disabilities get in my way of providing a better life for my family.

My goal is to learn the knowledge and gain the skills necessary to become an electrical lineman. I feel the trades are an asset to our communities and our lives. My dad would always say “the trades are a dying breed, if you learn a skill no one can take that from you.” I am passionate about this career path because I enjoy the outdoors and being hands on with things I do. I enjoy hunting, fishing and golfing. These activities can take place in various weather conditions so I do not mind the elements. I am accepted in to the Southeast Lineman Training Center program in Georgia. It is not a traditional college degree program. I feel the program will provide me the knowledge and hands on training necessary to work in the field. I feel scholarships such as this one will encourage people to seek out the trades. The program I have been accepted to does not offer financial aid, but there are other forms of financial assistance such as student loan, people eligible for the GI Bill. Even in my search for scholarships there are far more offered for people pursuing college level two to four year degrees. The cost of trade programs can discourage enrollment in these programs. My plans after my program completion are to get a job in my field in hopes that my employer will provide further education opportunities either on the job or opportunities to attend training seminars or workshops. My dad passed suddenly and unexpectedly in 2020. This has left a hole in my life that no one can fill. I have certainly not overcome it but I work hard to move through it everyday. I loved hanging out with my dad and tagging along with him, which often lead to me helping him with whatever odd job he may be doing, from installing a household ceiling fan, an added plug outlet to a wall, flooring installation to working on a Christmas tree farm. My dad instilled a hard work ethic in me and was a great example of someone who was reliable and always encouraged me to just do my best. He is still a big influence in my everyday life. Life is never the same after you suffer a significant loss of someone you love. You can not replace them, you find ways to honor their life and what it meant to you.

As an independent student due to both of my parents dying from cancer leaving me to survive on my own. Unlike most of my peers whom can fall back on their parents for support. I am the support system emotionally, physically, and financially. This scholarship could ease the burden for me to fully focus on my academic studies. The current covid19 pandemic has ushered in a new way of life for many the effects of the virus has had a dramatic impact on society. HVAC is an essential profession in society air filtration will help aid in upcoming battles of war against future invisible virus that come. Being able to control temperatures allow the elimination of the spread of germs thanks to HVAC workers. My life has had various obstacles of adversity I have had to overcome. Being a black minority in America was my birth right it was cast upon my rich chocolate skin the moment I was delivered. Growing up in Gainesville in low-income housing or as some refer to as the ghetto was my survival boot camp training. Every day was survival for the fittest Darwin would be proud the way I survived shoot outs being surround by guns, violence, drugs, and mental health disorders from a plagued diminished community of low economic standings. Being a product of public housing, I have always worn the fact of where I come from with pride it is my scarlet letter. My community shaped and molded the individual I am today. Through my adversities I gained real life experiences low-income public housing allowed for myself to bear witness to societies worst attributes as well as the true beauty of humanity. Rather it was watching drugs cripple families forcing children to turn to gun violence leaving them to turn to gangs for a false sense of family security. However, on the other side of that coin I got to view fierce mothers protect and provide for their children making sacrifices every day to place food on the table. I watched many in my community bleed out on the concrete streets. While, some overdosed hunched over against the brick buildings. Yet, they did not own a street or brick they left no generational wealth only vouchers of misery. Most students have the luxury of dreaming of being scientist, doctors, engineers, or liberal art majors to accumulate a mass of loan debt is not an option for me. I am attending Santa Fe to receive a trade in HVAC program to start my own business offering a service to the community at a fair rate in order to sustain the life I would like to live. Hopefully if I'm successful in my business I can help my community and reach back. Giving the men like me jobs to make a living instead of having them sell drug to one another. This will be for my childhood friends whom have lost their ability to dream of a brighter future only left with the darkness of the barrel of a gun. The struggling single mother whom just would like to provide a safe environment for her children to academically thrive in with out the worrisome thought of violence plaguing their daily life. Creating real economic change in my Community there is a need for more trade workers. The pandemic shined a light on the shortage in all professional fields which are essential pillars to society. I will achieve my goals due to the fact in this game of life you have to play the cards dealt to you even if it is a bad hand.