My education journey has been anything but traditional, and while it wasn't easy it was exactly what i needed to be the person I am today. It allowed me to find my path and my support group and I will always be grateful for that. When I was 16 I moved back in with my father from my mother's house. My mom was suffering from Bipolar disorder and wasn't protecting or parenting me and my siblings in the way we needed and I knew I needed to get away. Once I was in a safer space the trauma truly hit and I began to break down. I started to avoid leaving home and eventually dropped out of school and was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. I wouldn't leave my home for over a year and slipped into a depression. I realized I had to take the steps to better my life and went to therapy and got into the working world but as a high school drop out it was a struggle, but I made it work. After the birth of my son and my successful battle with postpartum depression I realized I wanted to set the best post example for him. I wanted him to see me as a strong, educated, and successful woman. This gave me the strength to go get my GED and enroll in college at 29. Working, full-time school and full-time motherhood isn't easy but I know I can do it and continue to amaze myself with how far I have come. In my first semester, I made the president's list and am hoping to continue this in my second semester. I can't wait for my son to see me take my very first walk across the stage as I accept my diploma, I also am looking forward to getting into the human resources field to help others and lend an understanding ear that I always needed. After receiving my associate's I plan to continue to my bachelor's and later a master's so I can give my son the like her deserves. I also look forward to helping others in the human resources field. Being the ear I needed at times in my life and try to better other work life or experience. Again this journey seems wrong to so many but it was perfect for me. With my son, I have been the best student I have ever been, and hope he sees through me anything and everything is possible with the hard work and this scholarship will allow me to continue this journey as a full-time student and mom and not have to sacrifice the time I spend on my education and truly apply myself and be the best student I can be.

My education journey has been anything but traditional, and while it wasn't easy it was exactly what i needed to be the person I am today. It allowed me to find my path and my support group and I will always be grateful for that. When I was 16 I moved back in with my father from my mother's house. My mom was suffering from Bipolar disorder and wasn't protecting or parenting me and my siblings in the way we needed and I knew I needed to get away. Once I was in a safer space the trauma truly hit and I began to break down. I started to avoid leaving home and eventually dropped out of school and was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. I wouldn't leave my home for over a year and slipped into a depression. I realized I had to take the steps to better my life so I went to therapy and got into the working world and as a high school dropout it was a struggle, but I made it work. After the birth of my son and my successful battle with postpartum depression I realized I wanted to set the best post example for him. I wanted him to see me as a strong, educated, and successful woman. This gave me the strength to go get my GED and enroll in college at 29. Working, full-time school, and full-time motherhood aren't easy but I know I can do it and continue to amaze myself with how far I have come. In my first semester, I made the president's list and am hoping to continue this in my second semester. I can't wait for my son to see me take my very first walk across the stage as I accept my diploma, I also am looking forward to getting into the human resources field to help others and lend an understanding ear that I always needed. After receiving my associate's I plan to continue to my bachelor's and later a masters so I can give my son the like her deserves. Again this journey seems wrong to so many but it was perfect for me. With my son, I have been the best student I have ever been and hope he sees through me anything and everything is possible with the hard work and this scholarship will allow me to continue this journey as a full-time student and mom and not have to sacrifice the time I spend on my education and truly apply myself and be the best student I can be.

My education journey has been anything but traditional, and while it wasn't easy it was exactly what i needed to be the person I am today. It allowed me to find my path and my support group and I will always be grateful for that. When I was 16 I moved back in with my father from my mothers house. My mom was suffering from Bi polar disorder and wasn't protecting or parenting me and my siblings in the way we needed and I knew I needed to get away. Once I was in a safer space the trauma truly hit and I began to breakdown. I started to avoid leaving home and eventually dropped out of school and was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. I wouldn't leave my home for over a year and slipped into a depression. I realized I had to take the steps to better my life and went to therapy and got into the working world but as a high school drop out it was a struggle, but I made it work. After the birth of my son and my successful battle with postpartum depression I realized I wanted to set the best post example for him. I wanted him to see me as strong, educated and successful women. This gave me the strength to go get my GED and enroll in college at 29. Working, full time school and full time motherhood isn't easy but I know I can do it and continue to amaze myself with how far I have come. In my first semester I made the presidents list and am hoping to continue this in my second semester. I can't wait for my son to see me take my very first walk across the stage as I accept my diploma, I also am looking forward to getting into the human resources field to help others and lend an understanding ear that I always needed. After receiving my associates I plan to continue to my bachelors and laters masters so I can give my sone the like her deserves. Again this journey seems wrong to so many but it was perfect for me. With my son I have been the best student I have ever been and hope he sees through me anything and everything is possible with the hard work and this scholarship will allow me to continue this journey as a full time student and mom and not have to sacrifice the time I spend on my education and truly apply myself and be the best student I can be.