Becoming a parent at 19 changed my life overnight. I thought I was ready, I loved my daughter so much, but bringing her home that first night, I just remember lying in bed, wide awake while she cried, realizing my entire life as I knew it had changed completely. While my friends were focused on college, social lives, and figuring out their futures, I was holding a newborn in my arms, realizing that my future was no longer just my own. The weight of responsibility hit me hard. I had a child depending on me, and there was no pause button. The uncertainty was overwhelming.
Giving up was never an option for me, I learned to manage my time better, working early mornings and late shifts to provide for my daughter. I knew that I needed to give her the childhood I didn’t have, and that was my motivation every step of the way. It reminded me that every sacrifice was for something bigger than myself. Looking back, I realize those moments revealed strengths I didn’t know I had.
Growing up in a dysfunctional household, I witnessed firsthand the struggles that come with instability, addiction, and financial hardship. These experiences shaped my understanding of resilience and the importance of creating a better future, not just for myself, but for my children. I refuse to let them grow up in the same cycle of struggle. I want them to see that, no matter the obstacles, education is a path to opportunity and change.
Breaking the generational cycle is a driving force behind my decision to return to school as a single mother. I want to show my children that education can open doors to opportunities and provide a path to a brighter future. Coming from a background where higher education wasn’t always prioritized, I am determined to break that cycle and create a legacy of learning and achievement. I am determined to create a better life for my children, to show them that resilience and hard work can open doors, and to use my experiences to help others.
My dad struggled with opioid addiction my entire life. I saw firsthand how it affected his life. Even though I didn’t live with him, I had a relationship with him and witnessed the ups and downs of his battle with addiction. No matter how much he wanted to get better, the addiction always pulled him back. Eventually, it took his life, he died of a drug overdose which is the case for a lot of families. Losing him was heartbreaking, but it also opened my eyes to how devastating addiction can be, not just for those struggling with it, but for the people who love them. I knew then that I wanted to be part of the fight against addiction.
Watching my dad’s struggles, I wanted to understand addiction beyond just the personal pain it caused. I started researching the science behind it, learning how opioids alter brain chemistry and why recovery is so difficult. I'm constantly reading books and listening to podcasts on Addiction. The more I learned, the more I realized I wanted to be part of the solution. I want to be the kind of nurse who meets patients where they are, I haven't been in the addict position myself but always on the other side of it, hopefully giving a different perspective. Offering not just medical care but empathy. Someone who understands addiction not as a moral failing, but as a disease.
Pursuing a career as an RN with an addiction treatment focus is more than just a job to me, it’s a mission. I know what it’s like to love someone struggling with addiction, to feel powerless but still hold onto hope. I want to be that hope for others. Whether it’s in a hospital, a rehab center, or a community outreach program, I want to be on the front lines, helping people take steps toward recovery. My experience growing up in that environment didn’t break me, it gave me a purpose. And now, I’m ready to turn that purpose into action.
My primary focus is providing for my children while also striving to create a better future for our family through education. Covering tuition, school supplies, and childcare expenses, alongside daily living costs, requires careful budgeting and sacrifices. Despite these challenges, I am determined to succeed and set an example for my children about the value of perseverance and education. A scholarship would alleviate financial stress and allow me to dedicate more time and energy to my studies and my role as a parent.
Becoming a young mother I have always felt behind in life compared to my peers and other people my age. Pursuing school wasn't always an option, just trying to survive being a single mom with two kids. The financial stress has always been a factor in everything in my life, from growing up the way I did to staying in an abusive relationship because I couldn't afford to live on my own. The financial stress I carry as a single mother often feels like a constant weight on my shoulders. It can be difficult to focus fully on my studies when I am constantly worrying about how to provide for my family. This scholarship would provide crucial relief from some of that stress, allowing me to focus more on my education and less on financial struggles. With this support, I would be able to dedicate more time and energy to my coursework, which would improve my academic performance and bring me closer to achieving my goal of becoming a registered nurse.
Becoming a mother at seventeen changed my life forever. It was not something I planned, but the moment I held my son for the first time, I knew my purpose had changed. I wasn’t just a teenager navigating high school anymore—I was a mother, responsible for another life. I was someone’s world, and that meant I had to grow up fast, make sacrifices, and find the strength to keep going even when everything felt uncertain.
My journey into motherhood was not easy. I was still living with my family when I found out I was pregnant. My parents were disappointed and fearful for my future. Friends distanced themselves, unsure of what to say or how to support me. I felt alone, overwhelmed, and judged—not just by people around me, but by society as a whole. It seemed like everyone had already decided what my future would look like: another teen mom who wouldn’t graduate, who would struggle to make ends meet, who might never go to college.
But I refused to let that be my story.
Even while pregnant, I stayed in school. I kept my grades up, often completing homework during doctor’s appointments or late at night when I couldn’t sleep. After giving birth, the balance became even more intense. While other students were focused on college tours or prom, I was learning how to swaddle a newborn, manage nighttime feedings, and change diapers—all while preparing for exams. I submitted assignments from my phone in waiting rooms. I typed essays with my baby in one arm and a bottle in the other. It wasn’t easy, but I did it.
What kept me going was my dream of becoming a nurse. Long before I became a mother, I admired the strength, compassion, and intelligence of nurses. But after becoming a mom and experiencing the healthcare system firsthand, my desire to pursue nursing took on a deeper, more personal meaning. I remember one nurse in particular during my delivery—she held my hand, told me I was brave, and made me feel safe. She didn’t judge me for my age; she just cared. That moment stayed with me. I want to be that nurse for someone else—especially for young moms who feel scared, unseen, or unsupported.
After graduating from high school with a 3.8 GPA, I enrolled at Lake Washington Institute of Technology to pursue my nursing degree. I am now in my undergraduate nursing program, working toward becoming a Registered Nurse with hopes of specializing in pediatric or community health nursing. I want to serve young families, especially teen moms and underserved communities who often face barriers to quality care. My goal is to combine my lived experience with my medical training to become a nurse who sees the full person—not just their symptoms, but their story.
The challenges I’ve faced have been many. Financially, I’ve struggled to afford textbooks, transportation, childcare, and tuition all at once. I’ve worked part-time jobs while attending school, often sacrificing sleep and rest to make sure everything gets done. Emotionally, there are days I feel overwhelmed—like I’m failing at everything. But then I remember why I started: my son. He’s the reason I push through every hard moment. I want him to grow up seeing that hard work, determination, and love can build something beautiful, even out of difficult beginnings.
Being a young mom has made me more resilient than I ever imagined. I’ve learned how to ask for help when I need it. I’ve learned how to balance priorities, how to advocate for myself, and how to build a support system from scratch. I’ve also learned that being vulnerable isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength. There’s power in saying, “This is hard, but I’m doing it anyway.”
Receiving the Moms on the Rise Scholarship would be life-changing. It would relieve some of the financial pressure that constantly weighs on me, allowing me to devote more energy to my studies and my son. It would help me cover the cost of tuition, childcare, school supplies, and transportation—all essential pieces of this journey that I am trying so hard to hold together. But more than that, this scholarship would be a statement. It would say, “You matter. Your dreams are still valid. Your journey is worth investing in.”
I want to use this scholarship not just to reach my own goals, but to give back to others. One day, I hope to mentor other young mothers who feel lost or hopeless. I want to speak at schools, start a support group, or partner with community health programs to make sure teen moms know they are not alone. Education didn’t end when I became a mother—it became more meaningful. I want to prove that it’s possible to rise, even after life takes an unexpected turn.
My story is not one of failure. It’s one of transformation. I am not a statistic—I am a student, a mother, a future nurse, and a woman determined to make a difference. With the support of the MoThR Scholarship, I will continue rising—for my son, for myself, and for every young mother who needs to see that a bright future is still within reach.
